“That Over Where…”: Sikandar Raza Shares Game-Changing Moment of CSK vs PBKS IPL 2023 Match at Chepauk

Punjab Kings all-rounder Sikandar Raza (1/31 & 13*) credited fellow overseas all-rounder Liam Livingstone (0/16 & 40) attacking Chennai Super Kings pacer Tushar Deshpande in a 24-run 16th over as a reason behind a tense last-ball 4-wicket victory.

Chasing a 201-run target, PBKS needed 72 runs in the last five overs when Livingstone hit three sixes and earned a four off leg byes. Although he was dismissed by Deshpande in the same over, the Englishman was instrumental in reducing the equation to 48 in four overs.

“That over where Livi [Liam Livingstone] took charge and scored 20 [24] off one over, that changed [the] momentum,” Raza told host broadcaster Star Sports Network during the post-match presentation ceremony.

Sikandar Raza and Shahrukh Khan ran three runs off the last ball to secure a win

“Running as hard as possible” was Raza’s priority whilst walking out to bat at No. 8 with 15 runs needed off eight balls in Indian Premier League 2023 Match 41 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium today.

While Kings thrived on several batters’ contributions but it all had come down to Shahrukh Khan (2*) and Raza requiring nine runs in the last over bowled by Matheesha Pathirana. Considering how neither of them was able to hit a boundary convincingly, the duo didn’t have many other options than to run hard between the wickets to push PBKS to their fifth win of the season.

With three runs the need of the hour off the last ball of the over, Raza once again hit the ball towards the vacant deep square leg region to let his team register a triumph in Chennai after 11 years.

Sikandar Raza hints at PBKS wanting to retire Shahrukh Khan before the last ball

Not middling the ball at all across the three deliveries that he faced in a pressure situation, Khan was in the limelight during a lot of discussion between the batters and on-field umpires before the last ball of the match. With a lot of movement in Punjab’s dugout, it seemed as if they wanted to retire out Khan in order to send in someone who could run faster than him.

“I don’t know. I was just looking at a lot of arms being raised in the dressing room. [But] No idea. May be it was about retiring one of the guys. I think I’m going to have to find out very soon,” Raza threw light on a confusing scenario at Chepauk on a Sunday evening.