After being defeated by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 45-runs in a crucial IPL 2019 match, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) batsman KL Rahul has defended his strategy of not going hard initially at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad while chasing a massive 213 on Monday, 29 April.
Chasing a huge total at Hyderabad, Rahul batted well despite playing slowly initially, eventually scoring 79 off 56 balls laced with 4 boundaries and five sixes, but lacked support from the other end that led the KXIP to suffer a 45-runs defeat at the hands of the hosts - SRH.
While defending his strategy, Rahul revealed that he and Chris Gayle were supposed to bat 15-16 overs to take the game as deep as possible, so the others can play around, but lack of partnerships cost them the match, something that has bothered the team all throughout in the IPL 2019.
Speaking to media at the post-match press conference, Rahul said, “That’s been the team plan. One of me or Chris Gayle look to bat 15-16 overs as deep as possible so the others can play around. That doesn’t mean that you don’t play your shots. I tried my shots a few times, it didn’t come off, few went for boundaries, few hit the fielders.”
He further went on to explain, “Not always as a batsman you will get off to an amazing start, you don’t get a 20-ball 50 each time. Sometimes when you get off to a start like that you have got to make it count but sometimes when you are not finding your touch you have to hang in there. I know that if I am set, I can make up for it. We couldn’t get enough batting partnerships. We were batting well, unfortunate that each time we tried to take a chance we found a fielder.”
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old defended Mujeeb ur Rahman, who conceded 66 runs in his quota of four overs - the highest in the IPL 2019, saying this happens in T20 cricket.
He added, “Obviously, anybody who goes for that many runs will be disappointed. Sometimes it is not your day. In T20 cricket that happens. Every day one of the bowlers will get targeted and go for runs. He is a young guy; he has a lot of skill. This is the first time he has gone for so many runs. Before this he has done really really well for Kings XI and yeah one-off game this happens to every bowler. The best of bowlers will get hit for 50-60 runs, you just have to look to bounce back.”
On the other hand, KXIP played only five-bowlers against the SRH and Rahul said the injuries prevented the franchise to go with six bowling options in Hyderabad.
Rahul signed off by saying, “It is not an excuse but there are a few injuries in the team which doesn’t allow us to go with a sixth bowling option or play an all-rounder. When you are going in with five bowlers, all of them have to bowl four overs each. There is not really a choice. When you have gone with five full-time bowlers, you have to trust them. You expect them to deliver most times but sometimes it does not happen.”
(With PTI Inputs)
