Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) mentor VVS Laxman feels it is unfair to blame the bowling unit for their loss of IPL 2018 title to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (27 May).

Indian batting great believes that there was nothing wrong with the SRH bowlers, only CSK’s “Shane Watson was just unstoppable at hitting even at the wicket-taking deliveries” that took the coveted trophy away from the Orange Army.

Laxman told Sportstar, “If you look back, our bowlers were on top till the fifth over. However, the momentum shifted from sixth and seventh overs. Watson was just unstoppable at hitting — even what appeared to be wicket-taking deliveries — to the fence consistently. He was simply unstoppable.”

The SRH mentor further added, “We have to accept that sometimes an individual like Watson can snatch the game away with his brilliance. There was no pressure on us in the final. It was a good score we posted. In fact, we were just as calm and composed as we were right through and also in the crucial playoff match against Kolkata Knight Riders. This is what we as a franchisee always take pride in — letting players express themselves freely on and off the field.”

Commenting on the positives that they gained this IPL 2018, Laxman noted, “Well, the three biggest positives for Sunrisers in this IPL were 1. Kane Williamson as captain and batsman; he was sensational. 2. The way we won matches under tremendous pressure, defending low totals. 3 The evolution of Rashid Khan as a high-impact bowler with his great consistency and wicket-taking ability.”

He signed off by saying, “Well, the BCCI should be lauded for packaging another IPL edition into a success story. If you look at the crowds at every venue and even in the final, we had a capacity crowd even though Mumbai Indians was not playing.”