England opener Jonny Bairstow said that he will be taking the confidence from his stunning outing in the recent white-ball series against India into the upcoming 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 starting April 9. He will be seen in action for the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 14.
The 31-year-old was awarded Man of the Series for his brilliant performance with the bat in the recent three-match ODI series against India. The right-hander has scored 219 runs in three ODIs with a match-winning knock of 124 runs off 112 balls to help England level the series against India.
Bairstow told host broadcaster Star Sports: “I've been pleased with my striking, but we'd like to be on the winning side. Today, it just wasn't meant to be. I didn't score a lot in the Tests, but it was pleasing to come back and do well in the white-ball leg and I'll be taking the confidence into the IPL.
We know Bhuvi's skills, and I think getting outside off is the way to counter it. We had a conversation about it and we played him in the Sunrisers' camp, so we'll have practiced against him, don't worry about that.”
Sam Curran played an unbeaten knock of 95 but his innings went in vain as T Natarajan defended 14 runs in the final over to help India clinch the series 2-1 against England in Pune on Sunday.
Praising Curran, Bairstow said: “Curran was special, wasn't he? He's played out of his skin, and we know the quality and talent he has, and the belief he had to take us over the line, but congratulations to Nattu and how he executed the yorkers at the death.
There are not many people I would trust more than Sam to clear the short boundaries and he was absolutely fantastic today.”
Noteworthy, the IPL 2021 is all set to kickstart on April 9 while Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their first match on April 11.
(With ANI Inputs)
