Former New Zealand batsman Scott Styris speaks on why Punjab Kings’ Shahrukh Khan shouldn’t be put under a lot of pressure
Punjab Kings Shahrukh Khan. Pic/PTI
Punjab Kings Shah Rukh Khan is undoubtedly one of the young players to watch out for. He was purchased by Punjab Kings at the IPL 2021 players auction for Rs 5.25 crore. In his debut season in IPL, Shahrukh has played 8 matches so far and scored 107 runs with a top score of 47. The Punjab batsman is definitely a player to look forward to, having come fresh from the Tamil Nadu team which lifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 title in 2021.
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Speaking exclusively on Star Sports show Cricket Connected, former New Zealand batsman Scott Styris speaks on why Punjab Kings’ Shahrukh Khan shouldn’t be put under a lot of pressure, “I think that’s a lot of pressure to put on his shoulders. I would want to back up that truck a little bit and say no. Just let him play and develop! People develop at different speeds as well. He might take two-three-four seasons to get to a point where he is a reliable finisher. I don’t want to compare anyone with Kieron Pollard, he’s 6 foot 5, he’s huge. Shahrukh Khan is a big guy as well. Maybe he can look to aspire to be like Hardik Pandya. I’ve seen a lot of Shahrukh Khan because of my commentary days with the Tamil Nadu Premier League and he was a powerful striker of the ball in that league. I am glad to see him go on and do the same thing for the Tamil Nadu side in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and that’s how he has earned his space. Dominic Cork just talked about players developing and moving on to India. Well, that’s what these local leagues do as well, by televising them, by putting them under pressure. They then develop to get into their first-class sides and then into the IPL and then potentially into their national sides as well. So, Shahrukh Khan, just let him play like all the uncapped players, just let them develop; learn from the big-named players around them and when that happens, you just don’t know what can come from that.”
Speaking exclusively on Star Sports show Cricket Connected, former New Zealand batsman Scott Styris talks about how scouting has helped in Mumbai Indians’ success over the years, “I am an American sports fan and scouting is a huge part of what they do over there. Your ability to find players under the radar. Look at what has happened to Mumbai, the way they’ve been able to find and develop the Pandya brothers. The way they’ve been able to get Jasprit Bumrah. I am a full believer, 100% behind the scouting. We’ve got Parthiv Patel here in the bubble, who is – if not here, then he’s scouting for the Mumbai Indians. He is right up there, and he is looking for players all around the world. They’ve got scouts looking at all the leagues, below, even the first-class levels and that’s why Mumbai seem to find these players. I think if you want sustained excellence, then you must have a very strong scouting unit.”
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