While James Faulkner’s 33-ball 46 was pertinent to Rajasthan Royals’ setting Kings XI Punjab a stiff target, debutant Deepak Hooda’s 15-ball 30 proved to be equally crucial in the team getting off to a winning start in the Pepsi Indian Premier League 2015. After RR were reduced to 75 for five, Hooda and Faulkner added 51 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the innings. Speaking about the partnership, Hooda said, “The only thing we were talking about was that if the ball is in our range then we will hit it.

If not then we (decided that we) will take ones and twos and keep rotating the strike. So I kept playing my normal game. So what I thought was in my range, I hit it.

”Discussing the game and what would have been a good score, Hooda mentioned, “175 would have been a decent score and that was what Faulkner and I were looking to get. But we couldn’t. But our bowlers bowled really well.

” When asked if they had decided that he would go after the bowlers while Faulkner rotated the strike, Hooda who had struck three sixes and a boundary before returning to the dug-out replied, “No, there was no discussion like that. It was just that (we decided) if it’s in the range we will go hit it. Luckily I got the loose balls and I hit them.

”Although he made a vital contribution to the side, Hooda said he could have done a little better. “I could have (stayed on till the end) and finished (the game).” Reflecting on the match and the notes he could take away from the match, Hooda said, “Positive attitude (is what he would take from the game) and now I will not get nervous.

When I went in to bat I was nervous a bit. (Mitchell) Johnson was bowling, but then (later on) I was okay.” So what was he thinking when he came out to bat in an over which Johnson claimed two wickets, “Nothing much, just that if it’s in the range I will play.

” “See the ball not the bowler,” is what the batsman says he keeps in mind while batting. Hooda, who finished on the winning side in his first IPL game, said he was told that he would be making his debut the day before the match, “Yesterday, after practice I came to know that I would be playing today. Paddy Upton and Rahul (Dravid) sir came and told me that.

So I was very excited to play. Last season I was on the bench. So I was also eagerly waiting to play.

” Speaking about his preparation leading up to the tournament he said, “It was good because Rajasthan Royals held several camps. Even before the main camp there were a few other camps and I attended all of them.”.

Source: http://www.iplt20.com/news/2015/features/5876/classy-mccullum-diverts-credit-to-team-mates