It’s been a veritable run-fest in the last two games involving Sunrisers Hyderabad. Unfortunately, we have been at the receiving end in both matches. If there is any consolation, it is that we were undone by some exceptional batting from the opposition batsmen, while our own batsmen didn’t do their confidence any harm at all.

Against Chennai Super Kings, Ambati Rayudu subjected us to a masterclass, playing proper cricketing strokes on his way to a brilliant hundred. I have always had a lot of time for Rayudu, and this is easily the best I have seen him bat. It’s wonderful that he is back in the Indian ODI team after a long break, and I foresee bigger things for him going forward.

At the Chinnaswamy on Thursday in our last match, AB de Villiers and Moeen Ali put on an exhibition. Agreed, our bowling could have been better, but Royal Challengers Bangalore had to win to stay alive, and they went out and played fearlessly. The combination of a good pitch, the aggressive mindset of the batsmen, short boundaries, and the fact that Basil Thampi was playing after a bit of a break all contributed to RCB’s massive score, but I don’t think we need to be too downcast.

We also replied in kind with Kane Williamson showing the way. The more I watch Kane, the more I admire his approach and his cricketing acumen. Like Rayudu, KL Rahul and Virat, he tends to rely on conventional strokeplay. These men have shown that if you identify your strengths, believe in them and play with intelligence, you can be successful in T20 cricket without seeking recourse to the unorthodox. They are also great examples of making a good thing count. Once they strike form, they show a consistency that separates the very good from the good, and that’s why they are there in the run-making charts.

I feel we are just one game away from the perfect game with both ball and bat. It was nice to see Manish Pandey strike the ball beautifully and, as we head into the playoffs, we couldn’t be more delighted. Agreed, to carry some positive momentum will be nice, and that’s what we will target ahead of our final league tie against Kolkata Knight Riders.

With four matches left in the league phase, two qualification spots are still up for grabs, which reiterates the competitiveness and the intensity of this year’s IPL. We might be through, but I will watch the final league weekend with keen interest, like always.