Sai Kishore draws unique parallel with A.R. Rahman to compare mindset shift in cricket | CricTracker

Tamil Nadu’s R Sai Kishore recently addressed how he tends to adapt between different leagues while playing in a number of them throughout a particular calendar year. Kishore has featured in several tournaments over the past few months.

The left-arm spinner admitted that the brand of cricket being played in domestic franchise leagues is more or less the same as that at the Indian Premier League. The cricketer, who has played three T20Is for India, revealed that it was more of a mental game for him while representing various teams, regardless of the tournaments he played. However, he was clear that the pressure to get things right in the IPL was ‘relentless’.

“When you go to the IPL, all your senses switch on. There’s a lot at stake because one good season can secure your career. In Mushtaq Ali or TNPL, the standard of cricket isn’t very different, but the mindset is. You can’t take it lightly — you still need the same seriousness while bowling,” stated Kishore, as quoted by Sportstar.

“For me, it’s largely psychological, treating all levels with equal importance. IPL is the one place where the pressure to perform is relentless. I see it like an artist. Take an A. R. Rahman concert — whether it’s in Wembley, Chennai, or Mumbai, the quality has to remain the same. That’s how I view my game: pure and true to myself, regardless of where I play,” added Kishore.

The youngster recently represented Surrey for a couple of matches during the 2025 County Championship. He impressed with 11 wickets to his name in four innings. Earlier in July and for the entirety of June, the 28-year-old led IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. He contributed wonderfully well with the ball to secure 12 wickets in nine matches at a frugal economy rate of 5.44.

The wily bowler was heavily involved with Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, picking up 19 wickets in 15 matches. He has played three T20Is for India up until now. Kishore averaged 16.79 for Tamil Nadu in the 2024-25 Ranji season.

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