World number one T20I bowler Tabraiz Shamsi admitted that in the past it would affect him if he were not picked in the Indian Premier League auctions. But he went on to say that now he is not at all bothered about being picked in the draft.
"In the past, when I was younger, it (not getting picked) did affect me a little bit. But as you grow older, you realize there are bigger things in life. You understand that there are certain things you can't control, and I was certainly in that space,” said the South African who was picked as a replacement to Jofra Archer after the former remained unavailable due to injury for the UAE leg of the IPL.
Asked about what has changed now, Shamsi, who has been a revelation in shortest format off late, said, “I feel like I just have to do my work, and if a team feels I can benefit them with my services, they would pick me as Rajasthan has, and I m going to try my best to make sure that we win the competition."
The Royals are currently lying fifth on the points table of the IPL going into the UAE leg and they have won three out of their seven games. Shamsi believes that his team has yet to play half of its games and hence targeting a Playoffs spot and then winning the league is well within their rights.
"I think whether the team is at the first spot or the fifth, the position at the halfway mark doesn't really count. It's what you do in the second half that matters," said the left-arm wrist spinner.
"So, I think we are in a good position right now and we have got half a tournament to play, so it depends on how we play the rest of the games," Shamsi added.
The Royals open their campaign in the UAE leg against Punjab Kings on September 21 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.