IPL 2018: Lack of partnerships cost Indore match, says RR's bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule

Rajasthan Royals play their next game against KXIP.

Rajasthan Royals managed to win only 3 matches so far in the IPL 2018 |AFP

Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) bowling Coach Sairaj Bahutule has pointed out that the inconsistency in his team’s batting; especially lack of support in middle-order casts them many games in the ongoing IPL 2018. Although, Bahutule said RR’s overall batting is fine, but they need to build the partnership in the middle to win the upcoming matches of 2018 season of the tournament.

While blaming lack of partnerships for RR’s six-wicket loss at the hands Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in an IPL 2018 encounter at the Holkar Stadium on Sunday (6 May), Bahutule believes that they were 20 runs short in Indore.

Besides Jos Buttler (51), who stitched a 49-run stand with Sanju Samson (28), all other batsmen likes of D’Arcy Short (2) and Ajinkya Rahane (5), Ben Stokes (12), and Rahul Tripathi (11) drastically failed to hit the KXIP bowlers as Royals could only manage 152/9. In reply, KL Rahul’s mind-blogging inning of 84 off 54 deliveries helped the KXIP to finish off the game on 155/4 with eight balls remaining in Indore.

As per reports in Hindustan Times, Bahutule told reporters at the post-match conference, “Our batting wasn’t up to the mark. We didn’t have a partnership going. In between the 10th and 16th over, we lost five wickets. I would say we were 20 runs short.”

He added, “(KL) Rahul paced his innings really well. He took it deep and hit some really good shots in the 17th and 18th overs. Thirty-one runs in those two overs and that just took the game away from us.”

Meanwhile, the bowling also said that both Stokes and Jaydev Unadkat, who have failed to meet to their reputation so far in the IPL 2018, are really working hard and hoping to do well in the coming matches.

Bahutule signed off by saying  “To be honest, they (Stokes and Unadkat) are really working hard. Their work ethic is brilliant. Unfortunately, they haven’t got going. But I expect them to do well in the upcoming games.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 07 May, 2018

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