'Virat, Rohit told me not to think about it' - Ishan Kishan opens up on price tag pressure in IPL

Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Ishan Kishan has opened up about the pressure of price tag playing on a cricketer’s mind. The left-handed batter also revealed the advice he received from his franchise skipper Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and veteran batter Virat Kohli.

It may be noted that Mumbai Indians paid a hefty price for the wicketkeeper-batter as he was purchased for INR 15.25 crore at the mega auction in February. Kishan also became the highest-paid player at the IPL 2022 auction. The dasher started his Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 on an excellent note as he stroked a 48-ball 81 not out against Delhi Capitals in their opening match of the season. In his second match, Kishan scored another fifty.

I only have to focus on how to help my team win: Ishan Kishan

However, after two good performances, the left-handed batter has managed to score just 64 runs in the next six games. MI has been having a torrid time in IPL as the five-time champions are currently placed at the bottom in the points table and have been ruled out of playoffs race.

“The pressure of the price tag will be on you for a maximum of 1-2 days after the auction. But at this level, you have to understand that I can’t keep such things in mind and I only have to focus on how to help my team win. The pressure of the price tag certainly will remain for a few days but when you have such good seniors around you, when you keep talking to them, it helps,” Kishan said during a media conference.

“When I spoke to Rohit bhai, or even to Virat Kohli bhai during the game against RCB and Hardik bhai, everyone told me the same thing ‘you don’t have to think about the price tag’ because it’s not something I have asked for. The team had belief in me, so they did spend the money,” he added.

Meanwhile, the five-time champions MI will take on the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their next match on May 12.