IPL 2017: Rahul Dravid impressed with Rishabh Pant’s mindset during win vs Gujarat Lions (GL)

Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson were the stars for Delhi Daredevils (DD), as Rahul Dravid interviewed them following the win against Gujarat Lions (GL) in IPL 2017.

At one point, Delhi Daredevils (DD) were stuttering at the bottom of the points table in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017. However, they have managed to bounce back, notching up consecutive wins. In match 42 at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in New Delhi, they edged past Gujarat Lions (GL) by 7 wickets. Therefore, they have now managed to rise to the sixth spot, keeping their chances alive to qualify for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Indian batsman Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson were the stars for Delhi, as their coach Rahul Dravid interviewed them following the win. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD, Delhi Daredevils (DD) vs Gujarat Lions (GL), IPL 2017 – Match 42 at Delhi

“I just told Sanju Samson that if you see the ball, just hit it. If the ball is there to be hit, just hit it. Don’t think about the next ball, and if the next ball is there to be hit again, then hit it again. If we get a bad ball, we had just planned to hit it. We were not thinking about the next ball. I told Sanju, while he was planning somewhere initially. However, when he started getting it in the middle, he just told me that he would go for everything now,” said Pant in an exclusive interview with iplt20.com.

Speaking on carrying the good domestic form in the IPL, Pant said, “Obviously, when you do well in domestic season and carry the same form in IPL, I think it’s really good for me. Nevertheless, we have won a couple of matches in a row, and we need to take one match at a time. Let’s see how we do in the next match.”

Meanwhile, Samson too spoke about his good touch at the moment and has a clear mindset before going out to bat. “I think I was in a good knick. I was watching the ball well, and obviously the atmosphere really helped me, along with the mind set. I think this game is all about the mindset. So, the mindset was completely set, very clear and very positive. So, I just backed myself. I really enjoyed batting with Rishabh Pant. I started the innings really well. When I wanted to get a single after hitting a couple of sixes, he came to me and said, ‘Bhaiya, zyada socho mat, bas marte raho’ [Brother, don’t think much, just keep hitting]. So, I think that really helped me to go on,” he said.

In the meantime, Dravid too was impressed with Pant’s approach in the game against Gujarat. “It was really impressive for me as well, as Rishabh batting on 97 and not thinking about his hundred at that stage, while he was going for his shots and looking to get the team home. So, incredible innings from the two boys, truly well deserved and as a hard taskmaster, I hope the guys finish the job in the next game and stay not out,” he concluded.

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