Sai Kishore credits Ashish Nehra, Shubman Gill for Gujarat Titans’s strong IPL show

I am happy giving my everything for the team, says the left-arm spinner

Hyderabad: Gujarat Titans left-arm spinner Sai Kishore, who claimed 14 wickets so far, gives a lot of credit to head coach Ashish Nehra and captain Shubman Gill for the way the team has played so far in the IPL, reminding that they play for each other.

“I am happy giving my everything for the team. All the hard work is paying off. Finally getting a dream run,” Sai said during a select media interaction on Star Sports Press Room on Thursday.

“When Ashupa (Nehra) is there, nobody can really be very complacent. Even after the last game, he said, we didn’t play really well. We have to improve on so and so things,” the left-arm spinner said. “So, there is no room for complacency to come inside,” he added.

“When I play a game, I have to be well-prepared for every batter. Personally for me, this season is important,” he said.”But, again, I just wanted to enjoy my game. Comfortable with where my career is. I just wanted to give my everything for the team. I just wanted to prepare in a way where I’m very happy and satisfied with myself,” Sai explained.

On Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, the young Indian spinner said Rashid’s character stands out. “ So we’re not saying much to him. He knows what to do and we’re very confident with his performances,” he said.

Sai said that he was getting a lot of games this season thanks to Ashupa, management for backing him. “I’ve always believed that even when you give your 100%, sometimes performance doesn’t happen. So, very grateful to the Almighty for the performance to happen. Well, you’ve been on a golden run this season,” he said.

“With respect to Rashid and myself, Rashid is someone who can turn the ball both ways at good speed. So, there is a lot of difference between how Rashid operates and how I operate. We have a spin bowling coach, Ashish Kapoor, in Gujarat. Lot of players have to go to him,” Sai said.

“It definitely gives a lot of confidence when someone like Daniel Vettori (head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad) praises. He is someone I have always looked up to when I started playing cricket when I was a kid and everything,” Sai said.

“Gill is not just a talented player but also a very smart cricketer. He has helped me so much as a spinner because sometimes you need those inputs,” he said.

“I was in CSK for two years but I didn’t get a game. So Titans was the first team to give me a chance, so very grateful and we all have a lot of freedom to express ourselves,” the left-arm spinner said. “MS Dhoni had a great influence on me — the way he led, the way he approached situations. That shaped how I view and play the game. The second person would be Ashish Nehra. The way he handles the team as a coach — full control yet so hands-on — has made a great impact on me. So, the two people who have influenced me most are MS Dhoni and Ashish Nehra,” Sai said.