With a methodically compiled 49-ball 53, Murali Vijay set Kings XI Punjab’s 153-run chase on course at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali to help the hosts post their first win of VIVO IPL 2016. With Manan Vohra, the opener stitched a 97-run opening stand to set up the game against the Rising Pune Supergiants. With the visitors employing pace from one end and spin from the other, Vijay began by sending Ankit Sharma to the ropes on either side of the wicket to get the momentum going and then stepped out to pull Ishant Sharma to the fence during the Powerplay. He maintained a steady flow of runs and held up one end as his younger partner flourished at the other and helped maintain control of the innings. After posting the maiden win of the season, Vijay elaborated on the strategies and discussed the carefully compiled knock while speaking to iplt20.com. Excerpts from the interview: An important win at a crucial juncture, how had the team regrouped after the last match against Delhi Daredevils? Yes, it was an important win. We had to get the momentum forward. This was the third match for us and it was very crucial to get the momentum going and get on the winning way. All I did was to make sure to stay there and anchored the innings. I knew we have power-hitters to come in the end, and I wanted them to come (in to bat with) a cushion where they are comfortable. All I did was that and it came out my way today. Mohit Sharma had mentioned that it wasn’t easy to bat out there. What was your take? The wicket was good, but not the Mohali wicket where the ball comes on to your bat; you had to really wait to time the ball well. I did exactly that and I just wanted to be there as long as possible and take the team to a good position and win it. I didn’t do that (stay to the end), but hopefully I can do it in the next match. How had you prepared ahead of the season? I was keen to perform in this match because it was a big game for us. I was geared up. All I wanted to do was go into the park as early as possible and do it for my team. We have been seeing that openers – Ajinkya Rahane, Gautam Gambhir, among others - are playing crucial knocks and winning matches. Do you feel that batsmen have figured out batting in T20 cricket? It has always been a great opportunity being an opener, because you get all the 20 overs to yourself to make an impact in the match; any match for that matter. A good start always puts a team in a much better position for the middle-order and the lower-order to come in and exploit the conditions. It is very crucial to have the intent going and that is something that I am really working on because playing only one format it is very difficult for me to come into Twenty20 and straight away get going. But I practice really well and I back myself and all I want to do is go in there and express myself as much as possible. We are seeing batsmen take matches away with clinical precision without going for big hits. How do you view the evolution of batsmanship? It is good for you to have a good base, for you to stay long you need to assess the conditions properly and you should be ready to run those twos and threes. All these aspects come into play especially when the wicket is not conducive to batting. The main thing as an opener is to assess the wicket as quickly as possible and give a great start to the team.

What was the thinking behind stepping out to bowlers like Ishant Sharma?

It is to play with the field, not with the bowler. I just want to make him not to get in a good position where he bowls all balls in his areas. I just wanted to rattle him a bit, and yes I had my game plan for him and today it clicked.

How has it been batting along with Manan Vohra? How do you guide him through the innings? He is a good timer of the ball. His style is similar to my batting style as well. He is technically sound and all I wanted was for him to go and express himself and I will take the responsibility and anchor the innings. Or on another occasion if it is my day I will go for it (runs) and ask him to just hold on a bit. Today was his day, and he really played well. I hope we can continue playing like this in the matches to come. How do you work on changing gears? I saw that Manan was hitting the ball really well and that particular over of Thisara Perera (11th over when Vohra hit three successive fours), I thought that he is striking the ball well so I thought that I’ll let him push on for 20-30 runs more so that the team is in a really good position and there is a solid foundation for the batsmen to come in. Were there a few nervous moments when Shaun Marsh and David Miller got out and you followed soon after? Ashwin had a couple of overs so and I just wanted to stay and see those through. And when I got out Ashwin had one over remaining, so I thought okay we are a comfortable position. We needed 10 runs per over and I personally thought we’ve got to get the momentum on our side and make the position more comfortable. Then, we had some brilliant batting by (Glenn) Maxwell and (Wriddhiman) Saha (which took the team across the line). How do you look ahead to the next match against the Kolkata Knight Riders?

We would like to carry the momentum forward. We just want to do well and take it match by match. That is more important rather than seeing too far ahead in the tournament; just relax yourself, back your instincts and game plan. Stick to it and perform as consistently as possible.