Batting coach said KXIP need match-winners to make it to the play offs.
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) batting coach Wasim Jaffer has hinted that Chris Gayle and Mujeeb Ur Rahman will feature in the KXIP’s Playing XI soon in the ongoing 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 taking place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Both the destructive Gayle and Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb haven’t got any of the KXIP game yet in the ongoing IPL 2020 so far, Jaffer revealed that the franchise doesn't “to bring them when every game is a must-win game” to make the IPL 2020 playoffs.
With death bowling to be their biggest concern, KXIP has been struggling to win games in the ongoing IPL 2020, losing four of their five games in the tournament so far and Jaffer also admitted that their campaign has been disappointing so far but “it only takes a game or two” to turn things around.
Jaffer told PTI: “It should happen soon. As I said, it needs to happen sooner than later. We don’t want to bring them when every game is a must-win game. Hopefully, we will have those guys featuring soon.”
On Gayle, former Indian cricketer said: “Chris looks very much ready and is keen to get on to the park, he has been training really well and has looked really good in the nets. He is such an impact player; we all know what he can do. I hope he turns up and turns it on the straightaway and changes the tide for all of us. He looks hungry and that is a very good sign for the franchise. I am hoping he plays quickly. We need match-winners, as many as possible. Not just for the next game, also for the rest of the tournament as he can easily win you four-five games on his own.”
Meanwhile, the recent defeats in the IPL 13 have put the KXIP in a situation to win seven out of the remaining nine leagues games to make it to the top-four, and for which the franchise will have to rework its composition to make way for Gayle and Mujeeb and improve their batting, feels the batting coach.
Jaffer further explained, “KL (Rahul) and Mayank (Agarwal) has done most of the work so far (in batting). Pooran has been batting really well. Karun (Nair) had a couple of chances, he didn’t do well so Mandeep (Singh) has come in. We obviously need Maxwell to fire.
That is a tricky one, choosing the four overseas players. We got some time off and we will put our mind to it if Gayle and Mujeeb come in, who will make way for them.
Pooran is keeping also, so which are the other guys (that can be replaced). We will give our inputs to KL and Anil bhai (head coach) and they will take the call. I am sure they know what is the best thing to do going forward.”
On the KXIP’s campaign so far in the ongoing IPL 2020, the batting coach pointed out: “In a tournament like this, close losses always affect you. Because this is a tournament where you need to win at least seven to eight games, especially the ones against DC and RR, definitely has its effect on the team because we could have easily won our first three matches (before losses against MI and CSK).”
Jaffer signed off by saying, “We need to perform collectively, something we have not done yet. However, players are experienced enough to know that things can turnaround quickly and it is about time it turns in our favor, else it would be too late.”