Punjab Kings' (PBKS) batter Shashank Singh revealed that their team manifested a top two finish right after the auction and worked hard towards it. Punjab qualified for the IPL playoffs after 11 years and guaranteed a top-two finish, following their 7-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in their last fixture in Jaipur.
00:00It feels surreal to be very honest I mean it feels really good very satisfying and the best thing is obviously we manifested as a team as a team not individually me but as a team we manifested when the auctions were done we had a group on whatsapp and then we had conversations so we manifested that this year we will win the title our first aim was to finish the top two and obviously we passed that huddle but again manifesting is one thing believing is another thing so we believed we manifested and then we worked hard we worked hard
00:29for it for this and again the credit goes to the management the support staff everyone literally every single individual associated with Punjab Kings not only the players or the coaching staff but everyone who is associated with us we had four five camps before the IPL and then you you can see the results I mean we are in top two and it's not easy in a league like IPL to finish in top two
00:47let us come to the match you had a very difficult target chasing 180 is not an easy thing but way that Preyant Shah and George English were batting you know so tell us about the serve service and how good it was you know and the batting history of the road
01:00so initially what we felt as a team like the ball was stopping a bit there was some kind of tennis ball bounce we felt but then obviously later on the wicket was much better than what it was initially but again 180 on board plus a very good bowling attack MI has a very good bowling attack
01:15so that was a tough task but the way Priyansh and Josh played I mean it's out of the world I mean we know Priyansh how well he is playing and Josh again coming at the right time at the best form of his life I mean the shots he played I mean they were surreal shots
01:27so midway through the first innings Surya had come and Surya obviously being one of the best batters in D20 cricket he is finding he has this ability to find gaps behind square so what were your plans it felt like although he scored a half century I think you still managed to contain those boundary runs from him so as a team are you happy with how you bowled Surya?
01:49yes obviously I mean we had our plans we had our bowling meetings before the matches so obviously what we planned we executed because planning is one thing executing is another thing and in the pressure match because this was a pressure game because whoever would have won finished the top two so obviously the way Arsh, Marco, this guy Vaishak bowled I mean that was really good to see and the way Kylie played his first game and he was fearless I mean the way he bowled I mean sometimes it's not the stats which shows but the execution what they did what we planned
02:19was so good I mean he scored 50 odd but obviously what you said we contained him and obviously the wicket helped us a bit but because we wanted him to play on our strength not on his strength so that's what we did well
02:32Surya how is he playing at the Surya senior?
02:36yeah obviously I've said before also like Surya is a very dear friend I know him since past 10-15 years but playing under him he being the captain this was the best thing that has happened to me to be very honest I mean the way he gives freedom to everyone not only me but to everyone
02:49in the team and when I say everyone it's the 25 of them plus the support staff plus the people who are in the content team media team logistic everyone the way he gives them the freedom is something very appreciable about him and the way he has developed a culture in the Punjab side that obviously we love each other we care for each other that was the main motto of Ricky sir and Surya the day one when we had a meeting that we need to maintain a culture we need to care for each other and obviously results will take care of itself
03:16Surya Surya has been enjoying the year and you have a home ground in the airport you lost one and win one so how do you feel here?
03:25No it feels good sir obviously we won two actually I guess yeah so we won two here lost one but then obviously a very good beautiful ground I mean the wicket is really good the outfield is really good and obviously the fans here were very supportive so that was something which was which we really liked as a team and hopefully next year whenever we will come we will get the same support
03:45Do you think your team is the top of the world?
03:54No Sir not top of the world to be very honest because what we have believed what we have manifested is still yet to come so obviously this is something where we really enjoyed because we really enjoy each other's success we would have if we would have not qualified for the drop 2 we still would have been happy that we have qualified but again it's the half job
04:14job done what share has told in the last meeting that qualification is half job
04:18done finishing top two is half job done the full job will be done on the 3rd of
04:22June I guess when late at night 12 o'clock we'll have a press conference
04:25then that will be the time I'll tell you that yes we are at all the world
04:30Oh
04:32yes I mean very right use yeah yes all 10 all 10 teams are equally good I
04:51mean you see last game CSK I mean this year they have finished bottom of the
04:55table the way but the way they have they have played SRS against KK the way they
04:58have played so all teams are good it's just that few moments you have to win
05:02some day you lose some day you win so it's kind of that thing but all 10
05:05teams are top-notch you cannot say that number one is the best number 10 is not
05:08the best all 10 teams are really good
05:11you see in IPL obviously the most consistent teams finish top two but once you go into a playoff it kind of becomes a lottery
05:18couple of days of cricket can decide whether you finish go to the final finish
05:23both now you will be missing Marko Jansson who's been such an important part of the team as well
05:28yeah it feels good to be honest that obviously 11 years we couldn't have but
05:42obviously we are not thinking about the past it's this year because this year what
05:45I told the culture we have maintained a culture and that is really helping us
05:50everyone individually and talking about Marco I mean he was asset he's asset to any
05:54team I mean all good wishes to him he's going to follow WTC but then again we
05:57have players to fill his boot I mean as much by is there Kylie has just come so
06:02obviously we have good players and not only Jansson this team when you see all
06:0614 matches league games we have played every match is a new new face new hero so
06:11someday Shreyas have done well today Josh and Priyansh someday Prabh someday
06:15Arsh so obviously it's a combined team effort when you finish the top two the most
06:19important thing is that there's no only one or two heroes you have 11-12 heroes or if
06:24not 11-12 6-7 heroes so obviously our team has 6-7 heroes and hopefully in the
06:28finals we all can come together and win the title
06:30yeah I mean the physio team is taking care of him I mean I didn't have a word but
06:43yes obviously fingers crossed hopefully you will see him that's all I can say
06:46and I've heard on Vicky Ponting as well how influential I have seen you in the pressing room
06:50by far the best team coach I've ever played I've mentioned two names before
06:53Brian Lara sir and now I'm mentioning Vicky Ponting sir because he has changed the
06:57team culture he has changed our mindset he has changed our belief so all those
07:02things the credit goal has to be to him because obviously he's the one who
07:06changed our perspective towards the game
07:07culture what I said care caring about each other respecting each other feeling happy
07:16in each other's performance I mean it's very easy to say all these things and
07:19obviously you need to do this you need to do that but again building it is a
07:23different thing so he made sure that he built like day one he told he and
07:26Shaiya's both told us like they will treat Yuzi Chahal maybe in the most senior
07:31player and our bus driver the same I mean this is something and they have
07:34maintained this they have maintained this that they have given the same respect
07:38to Yuzi Chahal and they have given the same respect to our bus driver so this
