NEWS
Follow UsTwo months ago, Sam Curran did not land in India thinking he’d be captaining Punjab Kings in eight of their 14 games in the season, but a season-ending injury to incumbent skipper Shikhar Dhawan meant that the Kings had to rely on the 25-year-old, who also led the team in three games last season, to marshall the troops.
Both Curran and Punjab had their moments but it was ultimately an unsuccessful season for the Kings, who finished ninth with just five wins in 14 games.
Curran, in an interview with Sportstar, admitted that the results proved to be a big disappointment, and stated that not being able to put the pieces together hurt PBKS big time.
“Taking over halfway was always going to be a challenge, but I think it was an experience I didn’t want to turn down. Unfortunately, the results haven’t been what we would have liked,” Curran told Sportstar.
“We batted well in some games, and we bowled well in others. But we just haven’t put those perfect few games together with the bat, ball, and field.
“But that’s the sport. That’s why we play this great game where you learn from losses, and take confidence from good performances. I always like to look forward.”
IPL 2024 was Curran’s fifth full season in the competition. In a way, despite only being 25 years old, the all-rounder is already a semi-veteran when it comes to the highest level due to just how much he’s played.
In a long tournament like the IPL, momentum matters as much as anything. Curran, talking about the key to succeeding in this competition, said that mental strength trumps everything else. The key to success, he said, is to never be dejected or deflated as a group, even if you have multiple bad days.
“Yeah, the mental aspect is very important,” Curran said.
“The IPL is a long tournament; there are lots of games, both home and away. You just have to look at a team like RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and see how they’ve found some rhythm in the last couple of games.
“You have always got to keep believing when you have a bad day. You wake up the next day, stay positive, and keep your mindset good. As a captain, I have tried to keep the mood in the camp positive.
“Each team has such good players, so the tournament is even. Anyone can beat anyone on their day. That’s the fantastic thing about the tournament. It’s just about winning those crucial moments. You just have to keep believing that things will turn around and that you’re there for a reason.
“Sometimes, if you do have a tough day, don’t be too hard on yourself because there are a lot of games to come.”
In the past month, big names such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have spoken out against the Impact Player rule and how it has essentially killed the balance between bat and ball. Curran admitted that the organizers will have to find a way to make games more balanced, but asserted that the introduction of the Impact Player rule has brought in a whole new tactical dimension to the competition, which has made it fascinating and ‘confusing’ at the same time.
“I guess the fans and people watching at home would love to just keep seeing lots of sixes, but I think the Impact Player rule has made a huge difference. With the bat, it allows players to go fractionally more attacking at the top of the order because they know if it doesn’t go to plan, you are most likely to just bring in that extra batter at No. 7 or 8,” Curran said.
“In a way, it has probably helped the scores and how the players are playing, but vice versa, if you bat well, it allows an extra bowler to be in when you are defending. So, there are pros and cons for each team. I think it does make it quite confusing, as it shifts the focus from 11 players and requires more tactical analysis.
“The rule has been here for a couple of seasons. Who knows what they will do with it? But it certainly has increased the scoring. The way batsmen are developing has been fantastic to watch, but the challenge of keeping it fair between the bat and the ball will always be a debate.”
Curran, Player of the Tournament in the 2022 T20 World Cup, is currently with the England squad for the ongoing four-match T20I series against Pakistan. The first game of the series at Headingley was abandoned due to rain.
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.
