Mandeep Singh dedicates ‘special’ knock to late father

Mandeep Singh battled personal grief as Kings XI Punjab scripted another victory in an Indian Premier League (IPL) match in Sharjah on Monday night. Chasing a target of 150, KXIP achieved the target in 18.5 overs losing only two wickets as they registered their fifth successive match to keep playoff hopes alive.

Mandeep lost his father a couple of days back and he attended his funeral through a video call, reported news agency PTI.

Also Read | Punjab beat Kolkata by 8 wickets, keep playoff hopes alive

“This was very special. My father always used to tell me to remain not out in every game, definitely special. He always used to tell me, whether you score 100 or 200, you should be not out,” Mandeep said in the post-match presentation.

Mandeep also spoke about how captain KL Rahul told him to back his game and express himself on the field.

“I had a talk with Rahul before the start of the game. Last game I was trying to score quicker and I wasn’t comfortable doing that. I told Rahul if I play my normal game, I will win the game and I had the belief. He (Rahul) told me to back my game and play the way I want to play, pretty happy with the win,” he continued.

Both Gayle and Mandeep were in a mood as they hit the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers all over the park. The KXIP batsmen stitched together a 100-run partnership to condemn KKR to a humble loss.

Also Read | ‘Don’t retire’: Kings XI Punjab youngsters tell Chris Gayle

“He (Gayle) was just telling me to keep batting and play till the end and I just told him that he should never retire. He is too good. We are very excited,” the Indian batsman said.

Captain KL Rahul was all praise for Mandeep, played a match-winning knock of unbeaten 66.

“With the bubble, you don’t have your closed ones. The way he (Mandeep) played, it makes everyone emotional,” said Rahul, terming it as “complete team performance”.