Lucknow Super Giants' left-arm pacer Akash Singh revealed that a handwritten motivational note — which he pulled out during his wicket celebrations against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026 — is a tool he uses to stay focused and aggressive during matches. The disclosure came after Akash claimed three wickets on his first appearance of the season, dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, and Urvil Patel through sharp use of the short ball, even as CSK posted a competitive 187/5.

What the Note Said

Speaking to broadcasters during the mid-innings break, Akash offered a candid look into his mental preparation. 'On that note I had written things like — Akki knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket,' he said. 'It just motivates me during the game. Sometimes these things work, sometimes they don't, but if something helps me stay motivated and helps me perform better, then I'm willing to do it. That's what matters most to me.'

He was quick to clarify there was no dramatic backstory. 'There's no deeper story behind it,' he said, adding that the note is simply part of the environment he consciously builds around himself — one shaped by studying how high performers think and train.

The 'Dominate' Mindset

Akash outlined a philosophy centred on mental supremacy over batters, regardless of reputation. 'My mindset is always about getting big wickets because when you come to the IPL, you shouldn't just come to play — you should come to dominate,' he said. 'If you don't think like that, then in a league like this where batting is getting stronger every single day, you will always stay behind.'

The young pacer drew on an unusual mental framework — imagining each delivery as a single-wicket cricket contest. 'I try to think like I'm bowling in single-wicket cricket where execution matters the most. In those situations, your body flows naturally and the ball goes exactly where you want it to,' he explained. Notably, he pointed to his overall IPL record as evidence that targeting top-order batters has been a consistent feature of his game, not a one-off.

Bench Time and the Off-Season Grind

Akash acknowledged the mental and physical challenge of waiting for his opportunity. Having not featured regularly for Lucknow Super Giants earlier in the IPL 2026 season, he said the bench period demanded continuous self-motivation. 'Throughout the season and even in the off-season, I kept working hard, practicing and focusing on whatever was in my control,' he said. 'Thankfully today the process I had been following worked.'

Reading the Wicket and the Batter

On his tactical approach against CSK, Akash said the plan was built on prior match study. The Super Giants had analysed how CSK batters dominated in the previous game and identified specific weaknesses. 'My attempt was to combine my style with those areas and execute accordingly. That was the plan and thankfully it worked,' he said. He also stressed that IPL bowlers cannot afford to repeat plans across games, as teams decode opposition strategies rapidly. As the season moves into its latter stages, Akash's return to form gives Lucknow Super Giants a potent left-arm option in crunch fixtures.