Viru optimistic as Kings return to familiar turf

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 26

They have lost four of their seven matches so far in this IPL season, but Kings XI Punjab mentor Virender Sehwag is hopeful that a return to their home ground in Mohali will boost his team’s chance of making it to the playoffs.

“All the matches are going to be crucial. We have to win at least four of our remaining matches to qualify for the knockout stage,” said Sehwag, who is the Kings XI head cricket operations.

Kings XI are slated to play seven more matches in the league, with four of them being scheduled at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. 

“We are left with seven more matches, (out of which) four are in Mohali and everyone in our team is having a good experience here. We will look to play good cricket in all departments and achieve victory,” the former India cricketer told the reporters after a training session of his team at the PCA Stadium. 

When questioned about the average performance of the Kings XI bowlers in some matches, Sehwag said: “What sometimes happens in a long tournament is that you seldom tend to give a consistent performance. But when bowlers perform and batting unit clicks, then win becomes easy.” 

“There is no doubt that batting is our strength and I am sure that our bowlers will also deliver in the upcoming matches,” he added.

Sehwag, meanwhile, conceded that the side was banking more on foreign players this time around. 

On his choice between South African import Hashim Amla and home grown Cheteshwar Pujara, Viru said: “Amla is among top five-six batsmen in the world. He knows how to adapt to different formats. As far as Pujara is concerned he played for us, but may be the hopes we had from him…he did not deliver.” 

“But this happens when you play only one format. It becomes difficult to play in other format. His (Pujara) reputation is that of a wonderful Test batsman and not a T20 cricketer. I hope, he will improve his skills for the shorter format,” he pointed. 

Amla has so far scored 299 runs, including a century, at a healthy average of 59.80 and strike rate of 145.85 in this season so far.  

Viru further said his side was lucky to have a good bunch of young cricketers like Manan Vohra and Sandeep Sharma, but asserted that the youngsters should play their own game and do not try to copy others. 

“Vohra can bat like Manan Vohra and not like me or Maxwell. Youngsters should know about their strengths and weaknesses. I also wanted to become a Sachin Tendulkar and play shots like him. But then I realised that I had to create my own image,” he said.

“The youngsters in our squad are excellent cricketers. They are the backbone of our team. My advice to them is that you can learn from other players but you cannot copy them,” said Sehwag. 

Pending bills 

The Kings XI management opted to remain tight lipped about Rs 5 crore it owes to the Chandigarh Police on account of security arrangement during the previous editions of the IPL. The Police Department maintained that bills worth Rs 5 crore for providing security to the team from 2010 to 2012 had been submitted with the franchisee’s management. 

The case is still pending in the court. 

A date with Kings

The winners of the ‘BIG Cricket League’ on Wednesday met Kings XI players Manan Vohra, Gurkeerat Mann, David Miller, Sandeep Sharma and Marcus Stoinis at Hotel Marriot and spent some time with them. 

IPL schedule for Mohali

April 28 Kings XI Punjab vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

April 30 Kings XI Punjab vs Delhi Daredevils 

May 7 Kings XI Punjab vs Gujarat Lions

May 9 Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders