IPL 2021: Mayank Agarwal does not 'stress too much' on previous games

Mayank Agarwal

Punjab Kings (PBKS) opener Mayank Agarwal credited Delhi Capitals (DC) bowlers for their superlative show in the last eight overs of the IPL game in which PBKS suffered a six-wicket loss at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

Put in to bat, Punjab skipper KL Rahul (61 in 51 balls, 7x2, 2x6) and Agarwal (69 in 36, 7x4, 4x6) had an opening stand of 122 by the 13th over. However, they lost Rahul, Chris Gayle (11) and Nicholas Pooran (9) later.

"It [pitch] wasn't as easy as it looked in the second innings. DC batted exceedingly well and there was the dew factor as well. Credit to the Delhi bowlers - how they executed after the 12 overs. They executed the next eight overs beautifully," Agarwal said at the post-match virtual press conference on Sunday night.

For DC, pacers Avesh Khan, debutant Lukman Meriwala, Chris Woakes and Kagiso Rabada took one wicket apiece as Punjab amassed 195-4.

Shikhar Dhawan's 49-ball 92 (13x4, 2x6), Prithvi Shaw's 17-ball 32 and an unbeaten 27 in 13 balls from Marcus Stoinis helped DC beat PBKS with 10 balls to spare.

Agarwal failed to perform in his first two games scoring 14 against Rajasthan Royals. He was dismissed for a duck through a beautiful outswinger from Chennai Super Kings pacer Deepak Chahar. When asked about his strong comeback, Agarwal remarked: "I don't want to live in the previous games. I wasn't thinking too much. I just plan to keep a mindset that worked for me last year. I didn't want to stress too much about it and wanted to look forward. So, I just went out there and stuck to what works for me. I was batting well in the nets. It is just about holding shape, getting into good positions and doing the things that work for me," added Agarwal.