00:03 IST:
The victorious skipper of Sunrisers Hyderabad - Cummins, on being asked whether he ever thought that 245 was a tough target, says that it is always a challenge at the start, but given the strength of their batting lineup and the quality of the pitch, he believed the target was definitely chaseable. On the opening duo of Abhishek and Head, he praises the openers for their fearless approach, noting that on a good surface with their range of shots, he says he is glad not to be bowling against them. Cummins is also highly impressed with the youngsters, highlighting that Salil Arora hasn’t had many opportunities this season but stood out during the pre-season. He credits the coaching staff for instilling a fearless attitude in the young players, adding that they may not even realise how good they are. On the concern as a skipper to concede a lot of runs he admits the challenge, saying the game has evolved significantly. Says targets that were once difficult, like 200, are now more achievable, with teams capable of chasing at 12 runs per over. He underlines the need for the bowling unit to reset expectations accordingly. On whether he has any sympathy for bowlers, Cummins says he has a lot, especially in these high-scoring games where there is often not much in it for them. He adds that even towards the end, executing a perfect delivery like a well-nailed yorker can still be the difference in a match. He also points out that really good bowlers continue to have a big impact, citing Eshan from their team as a key example. Cummins notes that Eshan has been a major reason behind their wins and currently holds the Purple Cap, stressing that bowlers can still play a huge role despite the challenges.