Kings credit comeback win to team effort, Chahal’s magic

Pushed into a corner after a disastrous 111-run innings against Kolkata Knight Riders in Mullanpur on Tuesday, the Punjab Kings could have easily buckled to a tame defeat. The side instead too on an all-out attacking approach to successfully defend the lowest ever total of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Speaking after the stunning 16-run win, middle order batter, Ludhiana’s Nehal Wadhera, said there was a lot of discussion in the dressing room at the mid-game break. The side, he said, was determined to pull off the second win at home—key in their pursuit of the playoffs.

“We were never short of confidence. We know that our bowlers are capable of doing well here. Yuzvendra Chahal, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh and Xavier Bartlett, the way all of them performed was really commendable. I think all the credit goes to the bowlers for the win. The batters didn’t have a great day with the bat. I think they really compensated for the game today,” said an elated Wadhera.

The praise for the bowlers was well-deserved. Chahal had a field day against the KKR, posting 4/28 at an economy rate of 7 runs an over. He dismissed Ajinkya Rahane, Ankrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh—all dangerous with the bat—in his four-over spell to help his side pull things back.

“Looking at his [Chahal] stats today, he picked four crucial wickets. The wicket of Rinku Singh was very crucial for us. He controlled his bowling and showed variations by mixing his pace. He used his experience in a planned manner to win us the game. The way he performed was really, really commendable,” Wadhera said.

Jansen (3/17), Arshdeep (1/11), Glenn Maxwell (1/5) and Xavier Bartlell (1/30) also played a crucial role in defending a lowly total of 111 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Punjab Cricket Association International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.

Coach’s corner

Coach Ricky Ponting was also all praise for the bowlers—Chahal in particular. “I want topraise all the bowlers who were outstanding. But the little bloke sitting down here [pointing towards Chahal] was tremendous,” said the former Australian skipper. “We have challenged you a bit during the week....to go back to being the real you,” he added.

Meanwhile, speaking on the results, Chahal credited team effort with the win. “We wanted to be positive and we felt if we get 2-3 wickets in the powerplay, it will be good. In the last game, I conceded 56 in 4 overs, but I had full confidence in my abilities and backed myself,” said the leg spinner, adding, “I always have the mindset of hunting for wickets. I vary the pace so if they have to hit big, they will have to make some extra effort.”

“When you win such a game, the team’s morale soars. It’s my first man of the match for Punjab and I’m confident if I keep backing myself up and believing in myself, success will follow,” he said.

The decision to open the attack with Bartlett and Jansen, instead of regular Arshdeep Singh, laid the foundation stone for the Kings’ win. “Arshdeep is used to taking the new ball. But the attitude he showed in accepting change was good to see. When the opportunity came, he stood up as the leader of the attack, and played a role for the team tonight. That says a lot about him. That is what we want from the rest of the group,” Ponting signed off.