With practically no chance of making it to the play-offs, Kings XI
Punjab coach Darren Lehmann lamented about on-field bloopers that had
cost his team a couple of crucial matches.
“If we could have done anything better this year, it is our fielding. If
we could have caught everything, we could have won a couple extra
games,” Lehmann stated during the pre-match media interaction ahead of
his team’s IPL league game against Royal Challengers Bangalore on
Tuesday.
“The focus will be on bowling really well and hold onto our chances more
than anything else because RCB have some dangerous players,” he added.
King’s XI have five wins from 13 matches are at the seventh spot with just three matches in hand.
Lehmann, who guided Deccan Chargers to IPL title in 2009 and more
recently Brisbane Heat to the Big Bash League title in 2013, said that
it would be a challenge for Kings XI to play against a side that has
done really well at home.
“We have just got to perform better than we have in the last couple of
games. The other night, we were 20 per cent short of where we wanted to
be and missed some chances on the field,” he said about their home loss
to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
On team’s enjoying home advantage, Lehmann, said the sides have
dominated 75 per cent of their respective home games and the reason for
this could be that one feels settled if they are based there for a fair
amount of time.
“I think it’s a case of the teams not playing as well as they should
have away from home. It might be different next year, but for this
season players and teams have not adapted well away from their home
venues,” the Aussie felt.
Lehmann said the pitch here at the Chinnaswamy Stadium looks a typical
Bangalore wicket that will offer bounce and carry and a high-scoring
encounter.
Though the older players have struggled this year but the Aussie feels
they add value off the field in terms of helping out younger players.
“Sachin (Tendulkar), Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) and (Ricky) Ponting, add
immense value to a franchise not just because they are playing but what
they bring in terms of fans and the enjoyment factor.
“Yes, they would like to make more runs and take more wickets.
Franchises need them to do that as well. Adam’s no different. We need
him to make more runs. He did well in the last couple of games but
before that he had not batted well enough. They are superstars for a
reason. But they add a lot off the field. So you have got to take that
into consideration as well,” he added.
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