By IANS,
Johannesburg : Rohit Sharma, who pulled off an improbable victory for Deccan Chargers against Kolkata Knight Riders Saturday, said his good performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) will boost his confidence ahead of next month’s Twenty20 World Cup.
Sharma’s unbeaten 32 off 13 balls saw Deccan Chargers romp home with six wickets while chasing 161 in their must-win IPL game.
“Knocks like this would obviously boost my confidence going into the T20 World Cup. There is still some time left for the World Cup. We have some time to prepare it,” said Sharma who has struck two half-centuries in the tournament.
Chargers needed 21 off the last over from IPL debutant Mashrafe Mortaza and Sharma kept his composure to hit two sixes and as many fours.
Sharma said he knew that Mortaza was under pressure after being hit for a four in the first ball.
“I knew that 21 runs in one over were not going to be easy. But when he (Mortaza) bowled a no-ball and I got a four, then I knew that it’s easily possible because the wicket was good the ball was coming on nicely. If you hit the boundary off the first ball, the pressure is back on the bowler. I thought I must take full advantage,” he said.
“Mortaza didn’t start off that well and was under pressure. We decided to have a go. We had wickets in hand so that was not a problem.”
“I knew that he would bowl right in the blockhole. So there was a certain plan that I decided and it came off very well.”