Virat Singh: Hunger for IPL return shaped my approach to SMAT
Jharkhand’s Virat Singh, who followed up his 39-ball 72 (10×4, 2×6) against Tamil Nadu with a 36-ball 69 (4×4, 5×6) in the 36-run win over Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy here on Monday, said his hunger to return to the IPL shaped his approach to the tournament.
“When I started the tournament, I thought I needed to make an impact because it’s been a while since I’ve been in the IPL (last played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2021). So, it’s been running on my mind that I have to do well and get into the IPL,” he said after the Elite Group-D seventh-round match at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
With 2688 runs from 88 innings, the 28-year-old is now the second-highest run-getter in the tournament history.
Responding to the feat, he said, “It’s good to have numbers behind your back. But the main thing is to come out on that particular day and perform for the team — score those winning runs. I always think about impactful performance. A lot of people can come and score runs. But it’s all about going out there and making an impact for the team.”
Jharkhand qualified for the Super League (to be played in Pune), winning all its league matches to top its group with 28 points. Asked what has made Jharkhand so hard to beat this season, he pointed to a mix of balance, clarity of roles, and meticulous preparation.
“We’ve got a really balanced team. I think that in the history of Jharkhand cricket, this is the first time we’ve won all the games in the league phase. So, it’s a great thing for us. And I hope we can continue the same in Pune as well.
“It’s just that everybody knows their role really well. And luckily, they are going out there and executing their plans. We’ve been having long meetings, talking about every (opposition) player and watching their videos. Whatever was spoken in the meeting, the bowlers were coming out and delivering the same way. That’s a big plus point. That’s why we’ve been able to win all the games,” he said.
Virat has often brought out the scoop this season. He said it was a tough IPL experience that pushed him to work on new shots with the help of Chennai Super Kings batting and fielding coach Rajiv Kumar.
“Earlier, I didn’t know how to play the scoop, sweep, or reverse-sweep. Now, I’ve developed those shots because the last time I played in the IPL (vs Delhi Capitals in Chennai in April 2021), I unfortunately got to play on a turning track. And I had to play against Ravichandran Ashwin. At that point, I didn’t have those shots and struggled a bit. So, I worked on them, and now it’s paying off.
“When I was in the UK last year, I worked with Rajiv Kumar. I really worked hard with him. I was playing for a club in Durham, and whenever I got the time, I drove down to Manchester to work with him. It was really good working with him. We worked on the basics and all these fancy shots. In T20s, the bowlers are not going to give you freebies. So, it’s important that when a bowler is bowling well, you’re able to manipulate and play those fancy shots to get runs,” he said.
Having scored 271 runs (three fifties) at a strike rate of 165.24 (average 54.20) in seven matches so far, he was measured but optimistic about the upcoming IPL auction. “Let’s see what happens on the 16th. I’ve got a few more games to showcase my talent.”
Published on Dec 08, 2025
