Finn Allen believes shedding self-imposed pressure key to IPL resurgence with Kolkata

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/allen-finn/WUFfwo8t/"]Allen[/a] smashed ‌93 off 35 balls - including four fours and ‌10 sixes - as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kolkata-knight-riders/nmRRRXaA/"]Kolkata[/a] posted a mammoth target of 248 for ‌the opposition. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/gujarat-titans/WxbsgtO5/"]Gujarat[/a] only mustered 218-4 in 20 overs ‌in reply.[/p][p]The New Zealand batter had managed just 81 runs in his first five matches and was dropped for three games before ‌returning to score an unbeaten 100 off ⁠47 balls in his ‌second innings back earlier this month.[/p][p][b]“To be honest, at the start ​of the tournament, I was putting far too much pressure on myself to perform, and I was ​probably a shell of a human for a bit there and it was all self-inflicted," Allen told reporters in ⁠Kolkata.[/b][/p][p][b]"I love playing cricket, ​I love batting, and I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I should have at the time because I was putting too much pressure on myself.[/b][/p][p][b]"So having those few games ‌off, really did me a good thing."[/b][/p][embed guid="b338bad2-574c-4224-8b1e-56dd19d08b5e" url="https://x.com/KKRiders/status/2055830663006171311" social-type="twitter" /][p]Allen said a simpler approach and renewed focus on enjoying his cricket had been key to his resurgence in the unpredictable 20-overs format.[/p][p][b]“I think what I really worked on was if I am relaxed and I am enjoying myself and I watch the ball harder, I am in a better position, and I am a better cricketer for it," Allen said.[/b][/p][p][b]"So ‌I think the main thing was to keep enjoying what ​I was doing, keep learning, and pressure is something ‌that I put on myself. We are very blessed to be doing what we do, so the pressure was all me."[/b][/p][p]Kolkata, seventh with 11 points, remain in a tight race for the top four with two ⁠games in hand. They ⁠next face already-eliminated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mumbai-indians/2eZPzJH2/"]Mumbai ‌Indians[/a] on Wednesday.[/p]