Punjab Kings' bowling coach Charl Langeveldt has urged his middle-order batters to step up and "get more runs on the board" following their three-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans in the IPL in Mullanpur. (Full Coverage|More Cricket News)
Punjab Kings made brisk start to reach 45 for no loss in five overs but their innings wentꦦ downhill thereafter as they lost 7 for 47 runs to be all out for 142. GT overhauled the target in 1🉐9.1 overs.
It was their sixth loss in eight games.
"Disappointing. Players are hurt as well as the staff and the fans. We showed a lot of character with the ball. We had a good powerplay with the bat for the first time in three games but in the middle period, their spinners were too quality for our batters an🦄d we struggled.
"We just need middle order upfront to get more runs. We were probably 20 runs short on t🤡hat wicket," Langeveldt said at the post-match press conference.
While Gujarat Titans used their spinners well with the trio of Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad exposing the opposition with their guile, PBKS picked Harpreet Singh Bhatia as their Impact Player due to the batting collapse even as Rahul Chahar stayed on the bench.
"It was the idea, we could have another spinner [Rahul] Chaꦓhar to play in but obviously when you're batting and y🀅ou've had a collapse like that, it's better to get the runs on board," Langeveldt said.
"That's something we want to improve, get more runs on the board. We are going to travel now and we are going to play on better batting wickets and that would give the batters a bit more confidence goinไg into the last few games. We take every game like a semi-final, final but yeah, it's one of those things.
"The batters are definitely going to be happy about the next venue (Eden Gardens, Kolkata). The bꦓowlers need to step up as well when we play at different venues, higher scoring grounds. Hopefully our batters will come goodܫ for us."
While PBKS are lan🅠guishing on the second♍ last position on the points table, Langeveldt tried to look at the positives.
"We still have to have that belief. We are a positive side, the boys showed a lot of character in the field. There's a lot to play for, we just🗹 need to win."
Rahul Tewatia played an unbeaten 18-ball 36-run innings and scored the winning runs for GT and fast bowler, Mohit Sharma w༺as lavish in his praise for the dashing finisher.
“For the past three years, he (Rahul Teꦕwatia) has been with the GT team. He’s done🧸 it several times before (finishing games for his team). All credit goes to him," Mohit Sharma said.
"He practices the same scenarios at the nets. It is also a challenge for us when 𓃲we bowl to him. He played a crucial innings, w𓆉hich was undoubtedly the turning point in the game for us.”
