Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) upset Mumbai Indians in the game on Thursday. And, one of the surprising aspects of the match was Punjab wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha being sent out to open.
The move worked wonders as Saha hit a unbeaten 93 in what turned out to be a match-winning performance. Interestingly, Saha himself did not know that he was going to be promoted for the match.
Saha told iplt20.com, "When I came in for the pre-match warm-up, I wasn't aware of the fact that I would be opening the innings today. After I went in to the dressing room, Virender Sehwag sent across a message to me saying I will be opening the innings today and that is when I got to know," Saha said.
"I wasn't expecting it since I have been batting in the middle-order this season, but I went out there, played a few shots, rotated the strike and fortunately got the runs on the board."
Saha was the common factor in some crucial stands during the match -- 63 runs for the opening wicket with Martin Guptill, 63 with skipper Glenn Maxwell, 52 runs with Shaun Marsh and an undefeated 47-run stand with Axar Patel.
--By A Cricket Correspondent