Kings XI Punjab registered their fifth win in a row to boost their chances of making it to the Playoffs of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League. Their eight-wicket victory in Sharjah over the Kolkata Knight Riders, who are also in the hunt for the fourth spot in the playoffs table, lifted the morale of the players, and the captain KL Rahul was delighted as well.
KL Rahul, who always had a sulking face after the match, during the first phase of the tournament, seemed really happy tonight as he said, “I am very happy. The whole team will be.” He said this while speaking post-match the presentation ceremony
Elaborating on the plan that the team had hatched before the start of the game, the 29-year-old said, “We collectively decided to go out there and play positive cricket, and things can turn around. It is different persons putting their hands up at different times. Fingers crossed that we can win a few more games.”
Mandeep Singh, who scored a match-winning 66 off 56 balls, lost his father just a few days ago, and to come back so strongly and finish the way he did was an act of inspiration for the skipper. He said, “The kind of toughness Mandeep has shown has rubbed on to others. Everybody is emotional. Just to put his hand up, just to be there, just to finish off the game, makes us so proud.”
Answering as to how come two leggies are being played in the same team by the Kings XI, Rahul said, “When we have Anil Kumble as a coach, it is no surprise we are playing two legspinners. He always had that in mind. He has worked really really hard on them. And not just on them, but also those who haven't played yet.”
The turnaround that the Punjab unit has seen in the last five games started with the first game that Chris Gayle played in the entire tournament. Praising the Jamaican, Rahul said, “Chris, it was a very hard decision not to play him, he is the hungriest I have seen in the last seven-eight years playing for different franchises.”
Answering a question on what is going to be his and the team’s plans in the next two days, he said, “We will enjoy tonight's victory, enjoy tomorrow, and then start thinking about the next game. One game at a time keeps the confidence going and keeps the energy going.”
Eoin Morgan, the losing captain from KKR was disappointed that his team wasn’t able to stitch together long partnerships to set up a challenging total “Particularly here at Sharjah, you have to counterattack if you lose early wickets, and identify the wicket early. Disappointed with the partnerships, thought we could have scored more runs,” Morgan said.
Saying that 180-190 would have been a good total on the ground, the Englishman criticised the fact that their team has had a lot of challenge changing grounds almost every game. “When we were three down, we wanted a partnership going. Around 180-190 would have been a good score, but we kept losing wickets. That's one of the challenges this year, going from ground to ground. Hopefully, we adjust to the conditions in Dubai,” Morgan said.
The 33- year-old exuberated confidence saying, “Our faith is in our own hands in the last two games. I think Gill scoring runs and restricting the Kings till the 11th or 12th over, those were the positives.”
Mandeep Singh’s brilliant innings under pressure and also under grief was appreciated by all while the Punjab come back was the next biggest discussion.
Veteran cricket analyst Ayaz Memon said that Kolkata batting did not look stable at all and the fact that they are still not able to find their best XI is a problem that needs addressing at the earliest.
The senior journalist also praised the efforts by Kings coach and captain Anil Kumble and KL Rahul respectively for their effort to encourage Mandeep Singh and talk to him after he scored his fifty.
Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar also praised the Kings and their heroes Chris Gayle and Mandeep Singh for taking the crucial two points.
Boria Majumdar, senior cricket expert pointed out how ill-ordered the planning of the KKR was that they played Kamlesh Nagarkoti, an out and out bowler ahead of Pat Cummins in the batting order and didn't even bowl him a single over. The reasoning for is this is beyond anybody's understanding, maybe apart from the KKR management.
Kolkata based senior journalist Joy Bhattacharjya put some 'pun' in the glorious comeback of the Punjab team.
As Morgan said, the fate of KKR lies in their hand now, the equation is simple- they have to win both their two games. For Kings too, it is simple- Win the next two get into the top four. It would be interesting to see, which top teams eventually make it to the Playoffs.
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