Irish star Kevin O'Brien will bat in a similar, swashbuckling manner against MS Dhoni's India as he did versus England
Irish star Kevin O'Brien will bat in a similar, swashbuckling manner against MS Dhoni's India as he did versus Englandu00a0
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Team India, watch out! Kevin O'Brien has promised to bat in his usual style when the Indians take on Ireland here on Sunday.
"I am not thinking much about the game against India. I will try to play my normal game," O'Brien said.
Considering that he slammed the World Cup's fastest hundred, off 50 balls, to fashion Ireland's stunning upset over England on Wednesday, the words should send a shiver down the Indians' spine.
"Whenever I come up against a good opponent it motivates me to play well," the 26-year-old from Dublin added.
"I will not be intimidated by a jam-packed stadium. We played against Bangladesh in Mirpur in front of a full house," he stressed.
So, from where did he get that swashbuckling style? "My favourite player is Virender Sehwag. I like to play like him, I like his aggressive style," O'Brien said.
Which means, the Indians can be ready to have a spoon of their own medicine! O'Brien, who also plays hockey, said sport is in the blood. "You will be surprised to know that my sister (Kiara), my girlfriend (Outh-Anne Kilty), brother (Niall) and father (Brendan) all play hockey. Besides, my father has played 52 unofficial one-day (cricket) matches," said O'Brien.
IPL dream
The right-hand batsman hoped that his 63-ball 113 caught the eye of one of the 10 IPL franchises. "I like to play T20. I have not got an IPL offer yet, but I am hoping that I would get a call (from a franchisee) soon," said O'Brien who was nominated as ICC Best Player of the Year 2009-10.
Incidentally, O'Brien's first international wicket was Andrew Strauss in 2006 at Belfast.u00a0 Despite his momentous knock, the wicketkeeper-batsman has his feet firmly grounded.
"I am the same O'Brien. I have not changed since last night. Sometimes I am pinching myself whether I actually did it, 100 runs in 50 balls is unbelievable," he concluded.
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