- Joined
- Aug 29, 2023
- Runs
- 19,047
Monank Patel (USA Captain) post-match Press Conference - 6th June 2024
[Reporter:]
How do you describe the feelings? I mean, leading from the front, winning the match, and becoming the man of the match and beating one of the major force in international cricket?
[Monank Patel:]
I am happy with the win, playing against Pakistan for the first time in the World Cup and beating them it was an unbelievable performance from our side.
[Reporter:]
What was the plan early on while you won the toss and elected to ball first? Do you think 160 was enough on the cards, or is that the satisfying score for you?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean, yeah, the plan was to win the toss and bowl first. And we knew initially first half an hour it would help pace bowler and the way we kept them quiet and took the crucial wickets in the power play, it helped really well. And yeah, 160 on this wicket with one side short boundary, I felt we were always in the game.
[Reporter:]
Actually, the series before this tournament, you have convincingly beaten Bangladesh 2-1 And many were saying that that was a fluke. Now, after beating Pakistan, should that be considered still a fluke?
[Monank Patel:]
I think, I mean, we are not worried about what people are saying. We know what we have worked and what capability we have. And we just focus on the particular game. And we don't want to keep our emotion too high or low. We'll make sure that whatever the win today is, we'll enjoy it and make sure that next day we come fresh.
[Reporter:]
So obviously a big win today in US cricket history. What are the expectations now? Do now you shift what you're expecting out of this tournament? Start thinking about Super 8’s and what happens after that?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean before the tournament I said earlier also that we want to focus on one game at a time. And our focus would be on playing against India now. We don't even want to think about the Ireland right now. So Super 8 is far ahead. We want to just focus on one game at a time.
[Reporter:]
Take us through the tactical reasoning behind giving Saurabh Nethralvakar the Super Over instead of Ali Khan or anybody else for that matter.
[Monank Patel:]
I mean, the plan was we wanted to make sure that we utilize the condition. And the condition was left-arm bowler bowling cutters and wide Yorkers with left arm over the angle going out it helps of a bowler to create that angle Ali Khan usually he hits the stump and we wanted to make sure that we make them play outside the off stump. And as a left-hander, the angle helps it. So that's why, and Saurabh had a good day, and I backed Saurabh, and yeah, that was the decision.
[Reporter:]
Where does today's win rank in terms of the biggest moments of your career?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean yeah, beating Pakistan it's a big achievement and the World Cup itself is a big achievement. So yeah, I would say It's a big day for Team USA and I would say not just for USA, for the USA cricket community too.
[Reporter:]
When Harish Rauf was bowling that final over, what was the message to the batters then? Was 15 - 16 was asked at that last over. What was the thought, what was the message conveyed to the batters?
[Monank Patel:]
I have no idea. We didn't send no messages. It was just the two guys batting inside and doing their job.
[Reporter:]
Did you think this match would be such a big thriller? Did you think it'll go to Super over and USA will beat Pakistan in Super Over. What was the feeling when the match was going on and what was the feeling when you head to Super Over and did you plan that there could be a Super Over?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean at one stage when I got out, we were still in the game and I thought like we should have finished the game and we should have never gone to Super Over. But yeah, I mean the way we kept our nerves and in the Super Over particularly, scoring 18 runs itself gives us a big upper hand to defend the target.
[Reporter:]
Captain, cricket is just taking off in USA. How big of a win is this and how helpful will this win be for the future of US cricket? How many more people will now join with this sport in the US?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean, of course, beating Pakistan in World Cup is going to open many doors for us. And people, like USA cricket community, be aware of it. Obviously hosting the World Cup in USA and performing here as a team, it helps us to grow the cricket in USA.
[Reporter:]
It seemed like there was a sense of inevitability around the result. Right from the ball one, almost everyone was switched on. So, right from the time you woke up, did you also feel that you are here to get Pakistan today?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean, in the huddle we talked about - there's no pressure for us. All the pressure is in front of Pakistan. And we knew that we don't have support from the crowd enough. Pakistan had more support from the crowd. And I thought it will backfire them, and if we play good cricket, they'll be more under pressure. And winning the toss, the way we bowled in the first six overs, I felt we didn't give them enough opportunity to score runs and we kept them under more pressure and it helped us.
[Reporter:]
Nitish Kumar, splendid shot at the end, as we all know, super over - it was instrumental in getting the Super over. But the big question that the entire media centre was asking, when is Corey going to step in? When is Corey going to step in? Explain me his role in the side and also the amount of flexibility that team management is wishing to allow him and if he personally is flexible enough to say that no I want to go up the order as well.
[Monank Patel:]
I mean you see as a player he always thinks about the team first and I felt when I got out, I think it was 14th over or something. 15th over? Yeah. And I mean, Nitish, the way he's batting, we wanted to back him, and we wanted to make sure that even if wicket goes, Obviously, Corey was going next. We wanted to keep Corey in the last three overs. That was the plan.
[Reporter:]
What was the atmosphere after winning the game in the dressing room?
[Monank Patel:]
Obviously, everyone is happy, enjoying with their teammates and their family and friends.
[Reporter:]
How do you describe the feelings? I mean, leading from the front, winning the match, and becoming the man of the match and beating one of the major force in international cricket?
[Monank Patel:]
I am happy with the win, playing against Pakistan for the first time in the World Cup and beating them it was an unbelievable performance from our side.
[Reporter:]
What was the plan early on while you won the toss and elected to ball first? Do you think 160 was enough on the cards, or is that the satisfying score for you?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean, yeah, the plan was to win the toss and bowl first. And we knew initially first half an hour it would help pace bowler and the way we kept them quiet and took the crucial wickets in the power play, it helped really well. And yeah, 160 on this wicket with one side short boundary, I felt we were always in the game.
[Reporter:]
Actually, the series before this tournament, you have convincingly beaten Bangladesh 2-1 And many were saying that that was a fluke. Now, after beating Pakistan, should that be considered still a fluke?
[Monank Patel:]
I think, I mean, we are not worried about what people are saying. We know what we have worked and what capability we have. And we just focus on the particular game. And we don't want to keep our emotion too high or low. We'll make sure that whatever the win today is, we'll enjoy it and make sure that next day we come fresh.
[Reporter:]
So obviously a big win today in US cricket history. What are the expectations now? Do now you shift what you're expecting out of this tournament? Start thinking about Super 8’s and what happens after that?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean before the tournament I said earlier also that we want to focus on one game at a time. And our focus would be on playing against India now. We don't even want to think about the Ireland right now. So Super 8 is far ahead. We want to just focus on one game at a time.
[Reporter:]
Take us through the tactical reasoning behind giving Saurabh Nethralvakar the Super Over instead of Ali Khan or anybody else for that matter.
[Monank Patel:]
I mean, the plan was we wanted to make sure that we utilize the condition. And the condition was left-arm bowler bowling cutters and wide Yorkers with left arm over the angle going out it helps of a bowler to create that angle Ali Khan usually he hits the stump and we wanted to make sure that we make them play outside the off stump. And as a left-hander, the angle helps it. So that's why, and Saurabh had a good day, and I backed Saurabh, and yeah, that was the decision.
[Reporter:]
Where does today's win rank in terms of the biggest moments of your career?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean yeah, beating Pakistan it's a big achievement and the World Cup itself is a big achievement. So yeah, I would say It's a big day for Team USA and I would say not just for USA, for the USA cricket community too.
[Reporter:]
When Harish Rauf was bowling that final over, what was the message to the batters then? Was 15 - 16 was asked at that last over. What was the thought, what was the message conveyed to the batters?
[Monank Patel:]
I have no idea. We didn't send no messages. It was just the two guys batting inside and doing their job.
[Reporter:]
Did you think this match would be such a big thriller? Did you think it'll go to Super over and USA will beat Pakistan in Super Over. What was the feeling when the match was going on and what was the feeling when you head to Super Over and did you plan that there could be a Super Over?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean at one stage when I got out, we were still in the game and I thought like we should have finished the game and we should have never gone to Super Over. But yeah, I mean the way we kept our nerves and in the Super Over particularly, scoring 18 runs itself gives us a big upper hand to defend the target.
[Reporter:]
Captain, cricket is just taking off in USA. How big of a win is this and how helpful will this win be for the future of US cricket? How many more people will now join with this sport in the US?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean, of course, beating Pakistan in World Cup is going to open many doors for us. And people, like USA cricket community, be aware of it. Obviously hosting the World Cup in USA and performing here as a team, it helps us to grow the cricket in USA.
[Reporter:]
It seemed like there was a sense of inevitability around the result. Right from the ball one, almost everyone was switched on. So, right from the time you woke up, did you also feel that you are here to get Pakistan today?
[Monank Patel:]
I mean, in the huddle we talked about - there's no pressure for us. All the pressure is in front of Pakistan. And we knew that we don't have support from the crowd enough. Pakistan had more support from the crowd. And I thought it will backfire them, and if we play good cricket, they'll be more under pressure. And winning the toss, the way we bowled in the first six overs, I felt we didn't give them enough opportunity to score runs and we kept them under more pressure and it helped us.
[Reporter:]
Nitish Kumar, splendid shot at the end, as we all know, super over - it was instrumental in getting the Super over. But the big question that the entire media centre was asking, when is Corey going to step in? When is Corey going to step in? Explain me his role in the side and also the amount of flexibility that team management is wishing to allow him and if he personally is flexible enough to say that no I want to go up the order as well.
[Monank Patel:]
I mean you see as a player he always thinks about the team first and I felt when I got out, I think it was 14th over or something. 15th over? Yeah. And I mean, Nitish, the way he's batting, we wanted to back him, and we wanted to make sure that even if wicket goes, Obviously, Corey was going next. We wanted to keep Corey in the last three overs. That was the plan.
[Reporter:]
What was the atmosphere after winning the game in the dressing room?
[Monank Patel:]
Obviously, everyone is happy, enjoying with their teammates and their family and friends.
