"I think the plan has changed now. I just had an option that if cricket would not work for me then I would join the Army," he told official IPL website.

The youngster said it was skipper Anil Kumble's backing and coach Ray Jennings' faith that did the trick for him in the high-pressure match.

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"In the team meeting he (Kumble) told me that I would open the innings today. He said he has faith in me and told me to back my abilities. He said the track looked good and no matter how badly I played I would still score good runs.

"Jennings told me to play my natural game. He told me not to fear failure and to have fun in the centre," he said. PTI