Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batter Quinton de Kock's atypical celebration after his blistering century against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2022 revealed some dissatisfaction.
The likely explanation for the charged-up celebration by the South African opener was addressed by Lucknow Super Giants assistant coach Vijay Dahiya during the post-match news conference on Wednesday.
“I will speak about Quinton. Sometimes he got runs, sometimes he didn’t (in ongoing IPL). When we practiced, or when he was knocking or taking throw-downs, he was always saying he never felt so good and how come it happened that he wasn’t able to score,” Dahiya said.
“He also said the day he got going, he would make it count and he did that today (last night). And the way they batted for 20 overs, without any wicket falling, just fantastic,” added Dahiya.
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Lucknow produced an intimidating 210/0 batting first after KL Rahul won the toss and then defended it by two runs to earn a ticket to the playoffs, thanks to De Kock's magnificent unbeaten 140, the best individual score this season, and skipper KL Rahul's 68 not out.
Rahul, too, has been lauded by Dahiya, who said the skipper has always taken responsibility.
“If a captain says something and then does it, it sets a good standard for the team. The way KL has batted through the season, is fabulous. He has always been in good rhythm, has taken responsibility and played for the team,” he added.
He praised the KKR batters for completing the game and dubbed it the best match of the season.
“We should praise KKR too for the way they batted till the last ball and I feel it is the tournament’s best match,” he said.
“Let us give credit where it is due. KKR batters were putting pressure on the bowlers and we will go back and see what can be done (rectified) because there is a possibility that we will be in the same situation again and try and correct things that are in our control. We have a very strong bowling unit and hopefully we will come back stronger,” he added.
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LSG won on the last ball of a game that saw the pendulum swing from one side to the other, and Dahiya believed that Evin Lewis' catch to dismiss Rinku Singh on the penultimate ball was the decisive point.
“When you speak at the end, it was (Evin) Lewis’ catch. When you need 21 runs off the last over and you score 16 in the first three balls, it seems things are (going) with the batting unit.
“Rinku (Singh) showed his ability and Sunil Narine has played such knocks, so considering everything, it was Lewis catch, which brought us into the game and the (Marcus) Stoinis yorker on the last ball,” said Dahiya. He also lavished praise on pacer Mohsin Khan, saying the youngster has delivered in most of the games.
“Mohsin Khan has been phenomenal. According to me he has bowled best two overs for almost every game barring one game. (During) pressure time a youngster playing his first IPL coming back and delivering, speaks not only about his skills but speaks about his mental side,” Dahiya signed off.
(With PTI Inputs)
