Tight IPL schedule taking toll on players: Finch

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 6

Already out of the contention for a berth in the playoffs, Gujarat Lions’ opener Aaron Finch feels that his side played well but was unlucky. Finch said tight IPL schedule also took toll on the players.

Finch said, “You play a match and then you are sitting in a bus or an aircraft, this is a bit tiring. I think there have been lot of injuries in this championship. But that is part of the game and something you can not control.”

Gujarat is at the second last position in the points table with six points from 11 matches. Lions will face Kings XI Punjab on Sunday at the PCA Stadium. “T20 is a game that can change at any moment. If you win your first match which is very close, you tend to win other close games in future also. And the same goes when you start losing games,” he added.

“It adds pressure. We have played some good cricket, but not just good enough to be in the top slot,” said Finch.He along with Dhawal Kulkarni, Basil Thampi and Manpreet Gony attended a promotional event organised by Intex in Sector 20, Chandigarh. Talking about the knuckle ball, Finch said the fast-paced format has made the bowlers adapt to the conditions quickly. And for this reason, they are improving very fast.

“Knuckle ball is something that the fast bowlers have developed very fast. The bowlers are now coming up with different types of slower balls. But I think once more players start following it, then the batsmen will start playing it better,” said Finch.

His teammate Kulkarni said, “A bowler can perfect knuckle ball only after a lot of practice in the nets.”

McCullum ruled out

Gujarat Lions opener Brendon McCullum has been ruled out of the remaining IPL due to a hamstring injury. Earlier, Andrew Tye was sidelined on April 29 after dislocating his shoulder. “McCullum has gone home. He has been a wonderful player as an opener and I am going to miss him for the rest of the matches. Winning matches for the franchise is still very important and we are going to achieve that.” said Finch. Sharing his maiden IPL experience, Thampi said, “I am enjoying my first season. If I go for runs, then I motivate myself to take wickets.”