Since the start of the 2024 season, the IPL has seen high scores. But, the Punjab Kings-Kolkata Knight Riders match on Tuesday (April 15) was a low-scoring affair. The game saw both teams being bowled out, that too inside 16 overs, but KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane didn’t use the surface as a reason behind the defeat as well.
“The wicket was good. It was not an unplayable wicket or that something was wrong,” said Rahane at the post-match press conference. “The wicket was very good. The ball was coming a little late. But the bowlers did half of the work. Like you said, they were all out at 111. It was comparatively easy to chase at 112 on this wicket. We also got a good start. We got 50 in the Powerplay and at 70, I think we had 3 wickets. But again, it’s a collective failure of the batting unit.”
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“Many times, it’s not only about hitting sixes or playing big shots. Strike rotation is also very important. And I am sure that didn’t happen with our batting unit. It’s not like Punjab bowled extremely well. I think we played bad cricket as a batting unit. I take this responsibility as a captain, as we couldn’t chase this down. But individually, I am sure all the players, especially the batters, will think about their own game and improve in the upcoming matches. Half of the tournament is over. Seven matches have been played. And half is still left. It’s always about coming back with good intent but still look to learn and improve as a batter and take it on in the next game,” Rahane shared.
However, Yuzvendra Chahal (4-28) was the star for Punjab Kings alongside Glenn Maxwell. Marco Jansen’s three-wicket haul was also a positive as well. Moreover, KKR’s spin twins Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy also had a great outing as they dismantled PBKS’s batting line-up as well.
“When we had a look at the pitch, we thought that we won’t need three spinners. Fast bowlers can get help, and historically, I don’t think more than two spinners have played on this ground. This was our tactical call, although Moeen Ali bowled very well in the last two games. We thought it would be better if Nortje came on this wicket and did well, bowled really well. If you look at it, it’s our fast bowlers who took the wickets. They kept the pressure on them. If Moeen Ali played on this wicket, maybe he could have taken wickets, but we as a management felt that three pacers and two spinners was the way to go on this pitch,” he added.
“As a batter, I thought that I will save the review for later. Because it shouldn’t happen that I take the review and then only one review is left. And the communication between the two batsmen was also not that clear. If someone comes and tells you clearly that the impact can be outside or missing, so as a batter, you take the review. But the communication between the batsmen was not that clear. I didn’t take the review because of that. But again, no complaints. Apart from that, we did bad batting as a batting unit. And the result of that is why we lost the game today,” he further added.
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Despite having their title-winning campaign in 2024, KKR has often saw struggling against spin bowling. Even with the less scoreboard pressure, they struggled a lot. Rahane also shared his views in it.
“Definitely, we were thinking about two points. What comes first is two points and then the net run rate. Till I was batting, it was sure that two points were important. As I said, it’s not about hitting sixes or getting that net run rate up. It was not a flat wicket. It had something for the bowlers. We had to grind it out. Sometimes you will have to play a maiden over in T20, that’s okay. Or play a strike rate of 70 or 80, that’s fine.But I think just grind it out. It’s all about rotating the strike as a batting unit. And T20, personally, I believe it’s not only about hitting sixes. Though we are seeing at this moment, most of the players are going for big shots.”They want to look good on the field while batting. It’s not about that. It’s all about reading the situation well, having that game awareness as a batter, as an individual. And then take the game forward. That’s what I thought we lacked today,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the question regarding Moeen Ali’s inclusion is going on as well. With his batting form declining in recent years, it is his bowling that is helpful for KKR, particularly on turning pitches where his accuracy is a huge thing.
“Depending on the wicket, we can only play four foreigners, four overseas players. Moeen has been fantastic for us so far. It’s very hard for me to tell him, Moeen, you’re not playing today, though he did really well in the last game. But he’s been understanding. He’s played cricket enough everywhere. He understands the situation. He understands the team dynamics as well. So, good on him. He’s always been a team man. So, I would love to have Moeen in the team. But again, depending on the situation and on the wicket, we will take a call,” he shared.
Having won on a slow surface in Chepauk quite comfortably, KKR thought that they would could do well in Mullanpur as well. Instead, they faced to a shocking defeat.
“Not really. See, all the boys, all the players, they’re confident. They’re confident enough. They are pretty experienced enough to handle all the situations. I wouldn’t say we were complacent or we were overconfident. We didn’t bat well. That was the truth. We didn’t have that game awareness. The situation, what was demanded on that wicket to play. When we lost those three, four wickets, it was only about taking your time. Even singles, rotating the strike.That was important,” Ajinkya Rahane concluded.
