TNAmarkFrmIndia Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Ben Stokes has won three Man-of-the-Match awards in eight matches in IPL 2017, each performance leading to a Rising Pune Supergiant victory. His most recent award was also his first for a batting performance - an unbeaten 63-ball 103, that saw Rising Pune recover from 10 for 3 to chase down 162 with five wickets to spare. It is numbers like these that Stokes would like to judge himself on instead of being bogged down by the pressure of the INR 14.5 crore price tag at the auction, Rising Pune captain Steven Smith said. "He's been hitting the ball really well," Smith said on Monday. "We're very happy with where he's at and how he's played. That was an amazing innings: under pressure, came in at three for nothing and to play the way he did, he timed his innings beautifully, took the game on at the right time. Fantastic knock to get us home. He hit some very clean balls there, chose the right balls to hit, too. "He's always said from the start that he judges himself on how he plays. He's not going to put any extra pressure on himself just because he has a big price tag next to his name." Smith, who had reportedly played an active role in identifying players for the franchise at the auction, revealed he had asked the team owners to go all out for Stokes. The England allrounder eventually became the most expensive overseas player ever in the auction. "We were very excited to get him. I had said before the auction to the guys [owners] just do what you have to to get him," Smith said. "Allrounders are so valuable in T20 cricket and he bats, bowls and fields well. He's a perfect fit for our team, particularly after Mitchell Marsh was ruled out as well. He's done a terrific job for us. We paid a big amount to get him. We know he's a quality player. [He] certainly earned his cash tonight. "For us it's about trying to get to know each other for six or eight weeks and try and get the best out of each other. Even learn a bit about one another. The team's been really good. We've got some really good characters in the shed there." Rising Pune have won five of their last six games, with three victories at home. Over the last 10 days, they played four games in Pune and one in Mumbai, and Smith had identified this clutch of matches as an opportune time for a surge on the points table. "I actually said to the group of guys that we had five games, four here [in Pune] and one in Mumbai," he said. "Not a lot of travel. Home ground, we wanted to try and make it a bit of a fortress. "We're four [wins] and two [losses] here, if I'm right. That's reasonable going. One more game to play here against the Kings [XI Punjab on May 14], so hopefully we can make it 5 and 2. I've said that these five games are very important for us and I think we've played some really good cricket and it's nice to get over the line and be in the position where we are now." With the exception of the victories against Royal Challengers Bangalore, all other Rising Pune wins were clinched in the last over. Smith recognised that closing out tight games has proved to be the defining factor in their improved run in IPL 2017, after a seventh-place finish last season. The good work on the field, according to Smith, has coincided with off-field bonding. "It's certainly been a different season for us," Smith said. "This year we've been able to get over the line in those close games. Last year we were at the end of that. That's how T20 cricket works sometimes. We've been really fortunate there. "It's been good how we've been able to gel together as a team. I'd say for us and Gujarat [Lions] as well, would've been the toughest for the two franchises, given that we were new teams. A lot of other teams have had their core players for a long time so they know each other really well. They have had many years of bonding together. It's nice to be playing some good cricket at the same time; it helps." Rising Pune's upswing has meant New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson, who picked up 2 for 7 against Royal Challengers and was named Man of the Match, didn't find a place in the XI on Stokes' return from an injury on Monday. "It was difficult [to leave out Ferguson] but we had some different thoughts," Smith said. "We thought this is our best combination. Dan Christian has bowled particularly well in the games he's played and he's a power-hitter towards the end as well. He's done a really good job for us. So tonight it was the right call. "It's about trying to get the right balance for your team in any conditions you play. It's not just our team that faces this. Every team has some quality players on their bench in the opposition, so it's tough on the guys that they miss out, but you have to try and pick your best team for each game." tweaker, G_B_ and asterix 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magneto Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Mahaan captain. Also mature enough to know how to keep white elephants under control. kira, asterix, New guy and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G_B_ Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 From dropping dinda to bringing in tahir. Smith is brilliant. Sent from my Wileyfox Swift using Tapatalk New guy and asterix 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gollum Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Stokes has had a terrific impact this IPL. Probably the only time a player bought for >10 crores has actually justified his price tag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velu Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 42 minutes ago, Gollum said: Stokes has had a terrific impact this IPL. Probably the only time a player bought for >10 crores has actually justified his price tag. if we consider only overseas player then yes.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pollack Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Stokes and Smith changed fortunes for pune. Mosher 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asterix Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 true leader... Mosher, speedheat, Lannister and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lannister Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 This is the team I am gonna root for after RCB's exit. You need to respect this guy for his outstanding leadership skills. New guy, Mosher and asterix 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Smith turned around a super dud team and taken it to playoff contention while carrying dead weights. Amazing leadership. asterix, Mosher and Laaloo 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asterix Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Smith turned around a super dud team and taken it to playoff contention while carrying dead weights. Amazing leadership. This is what Class Captains do instead of blaming everything on the players, management, injuries etc. Also not to forget that this turn around is against all external & internal "odds"... Lannister and New guy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gambit Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 What I also like about him is that he's used Tahir as a weapon and backed him completely as opposed to telling Tahir to focus on plugging runs. This has reaped dividends. asterix and New guy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NameGoesHere Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 So we're not hating on this -erstwhile- conniving, pavilion glancing, review faking Aussie cheat, now? I didn't get the memo... nevada, Shunya, Sidhoni and 5 others 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCCI Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 29 minutes ago, Gambit said: What I also like about him is that he's used Tahir as a weapon and backed him completely as opposed to telling Tahir to focus on plugging runs. This has reaped dividends. Insightful,but one cannot use a leg spinner as a defensive option,they are by default wicket takers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCCI Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 23 minutes ago, NameGoesHere said: So we're not hating on this -erstwhile- conniving, pavilion glancing, review faking Aussie cheat, now? I didn't get the memo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magneto Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 26 minutes ago, NameGoesHere said: So we're not hating on this -erstwhile- conniving, pavilion glancing, review faking Aussie cheat, now? I didn't get the memo... The power of good work. He’s been forgiven. nevada 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velu Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 45 minutes ago, Gambit said: Smith turned around a super dud team and taken it to playoff contention while carrying dead weights. Amazing leadership. with some help from sri krishna of IPL Shunya, Ultimate_Game and Sidhoni 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velu Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 31 minutes ago, NameGoesHere said: So we're not hating on this -erstwhile- conniving, pavilion glancing, review faking Aussie cheat, now? I didn't get the memo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedheat Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Class captaincy so far, cracking team selection eg. dropping patiya and dinda etc. this is how you captain a dud team rather then playing a blame game and yes glad to see he confessed it before any Godrej "thanda thanda" COOL COOL refrigerator ran away with all the credits.. New guy, Gollum, asterix and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maniac Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 Big fan New guy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asterix Posted May 2, 2017 Share Posted May 2, 2017 So we're not hating on this -erstwhile- conniving, pavilion glancing, review faking Aussie cheat, now? I didn't get the memo... Your point? When has IPL become and International event? Even the Pakistani have got support when they performed well in IPL... Looks like the "Name Goes to Dhoni" after all... speedheat, Laaloo, New guy and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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