IPL 2024: ‘Cricket’s turning into baseball’ – Sam Curran reflects on PBKS’ record chase at Eden Gardens

IPL 2024 has turned cricket into baseball, reckons Sam Curran, whose team – Punjab Kings, created history by chasing 262 in a T20 game with eight balls to spare against KKR at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Withwhat was on display on Friday (April 26) night, labelling that as out-of-the-world would be an understatement. Several records broke as PBKS completed the highest successful run-chase in all T20s, let alone in the Indian Premier League.

While opener Jonny Bairstow returned to form with a blistering hundred (108* off 48 balls), Shashank Singh continued to impress, smashing a brilliant unbeaten 68 off 28 balls, hitting eight sixes and two fours.PBKS’impact player Prabhsimran Singh also scored a fifty, while another overseas batter, Rilee Rossouw, played a handy cameo of 26 from 16 balls.

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Reflecting on the game, which saw a total of 42 sixes – most recorded in a T20 game,PBKS’stand-in captain Sam Curran said cricket is turning into baseball with howit'sevolving through T20 cricket. He also admitted that despite leaking over 260 runs in the first innings, Punjab deserved to win, given how they calculated and executed the run chase.

"Cricket is turning into baseball,isn'tit?It was absolutely incredible,"Curran said at the post-match presentation.

"Where do we [start]? Absolutely delighted with two points. Games like that are out of the world, but mostimportantlywe'vehad a tough few weeks as a team [this was theKings'first win in five games], butwe'vereally hung in there.We'vetaken teams down to the wire and, I think, forget about the scores...I thought we actually deserved victory,”he continued.

Curran praises match-winners

With already a lot happening this seasonin regards tobowlers finding nowhere to hide and batters going all out with their attacking approach,PBKS’Bairstow found ittoughto find a rhythm since the start of IPL 2024. Now, with him breaking the ice and scoring the crucial hundred for his franchise, Jonny looks in his element, and Sam soundedelatedwith this.

"Really pleased for Jonny.He'sobviously been on tour for a really long time,"Curran said."A couple of games out of the side, he looked like he came back really eager to score runs for the team and showed what an amazing player that he is. So,I'mreally pleased for him."

Speaking of Shashank, who has been thefind of the seasonfor PBKS, Curransaid,thatwith him and Ashutosh Sharma (another gem batter), Punjab feel confident entering into every game this time.

"We gave him that extra bit of responsibility to go in and No. 4, andhe'sbeen thefind of the seasonfor us,"Curran said of Shashank.

"Himand Ashutosh [Sharma] have beenabsolutelyincredible, andI'mjust really pleased.Our group has been through a lot in the last couple of weeks, and like I said, take two points, andyou'regoing to enjoy those small wins. Andit'snot a small win.It'sareallybigwin to come to Kolkata and beat that team.Proud of the team,proud of the coaches and proud ofeveryone,”the stand-in captain added.