IPL 2024: Curran says cricket is turning into baseball
Curran also shed light on why totals in excess of 200 have become a regular feature in T20 cricket in the recent past
Stand-in skipper of Punjab Kings, Sam Curran, has stated that cricket is turning into baseball after his side chase down 262 with eight balls to spare against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday.
The match in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 broke the record of the most sixes hit as well as the highest chase in a T20 match.
"Cricket is turning into baseball, isn't it? 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 most importantly we've had a tough few weeks as a team [this was Kings' first win in five games] but we've really hung in there. We've taken teams down to the wire and, I think, forget about the scores... I thought we actually deserved victory."
Curran also shed light on why totals in excess of 200 have become a regular feature in T20 cricket in the recent past.
"Yeah, I think loads of different things [have added up to this]," Curran said. "I think the way guys train is obviously huge and they can hit balls for a long period of time. I guess it's the confidence, coaches and the way we've been training. Let's be honest - small grounds with a bit of dew and the ball [gets wet] and sometimes you get a wide call. You think you've got a dot ball, you review it and then it's wide. Then an extra ball. So, yeah, not saying it's a batsman's game but it's showing... I'm sure everyone wants to keep seeing sixes. I think stats is definitely going out of the window. It's all about winning those small moments."
Remember, Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 108 off just 48 balls with the help of eight fours and nine sixes and Shashank Singh’s explosive innings down the order propelled the Kings to a remarkable win.
Singh scored 68 runs on just 28 at a massive strike rate of 242.86, courtesy of two fours and eight sixes and made sure that his side emerged winners in their 262-run target chase.
Meanwhile batting first, KKR started brilliantly with their opening pair of Phil Salt and Sunil Narine combining for 138 runs before the latter departed after contributing 71 runs on just 32 deliveries.
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