IPL 2023: We should have batted better – Krunal Pandya after big loss against Mumbai Indians in Eliminator

Lucknow Super Giants skipper Krunal Pandya admitted they should have batted better after their big loss of 81 runs against Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Wednesday.

LSG was skittled out for a paltry score of 101 runs while chasing 183 runs. The Krunal Pandya-led team kept losing wickets at regular intervals as MI young pacer Akash Madhwal returned with brilliant figures of 5-5, which is the joint fourth-best bowling figures in the IPL.

Akash’s figures of 5-5 are also the best for any uncapped player in the history of the IPL.

In fact, LSG got off to a decent start as they were 54-2 after the end of the Powerplay overs. However, only three batters could reach the double digits. Furthermore, LSG didn’t help themselves as three of their batters were dismissed via run-outs.

LSG failed to achieve any kind of batting impetus in the run-chase and they floundered under pressure. Meanwhile, MI posted a par score of 182 runs on the board after Rohit Sharma decided to bat first.

Cameron Green and Suryakumar Yadav scored 41 and 33 runs respectively and at one stage it looked like MI will easily breach the 200-run mark. However, Green and SKY were both dismissed in the same over by Naveen-ul-Haq.

Nehal Wadhera then replaced Suryakumar Yadav as an impact player and he added the finishing touches with a 12-ball 23 cameo.

Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya decided to take the attack against Piyush Chawla but holed out to long-on. The LSG skipper took the blame on his shoulders and feels the shot was not on at that stage of the match.

Krunal Pandya said in the post-match presentation, “We were in a good position at one stage, but everything started (going wrong) when I played that shot, we should have played better cricket. That shot (his wicket) was not on, I completely take the blame for that. The ball was coming nicely on to the bat, we just had to bat better. We didn’t play good cricket after that strategic break.”

On backing Kyle Mayers ahead of Quinton de Kock, Pandya said, “Quinton de Kock is a quality batter, but Mayers has a better record here, so we went ahead (in the playing XI) with him. Their batters bat really well against fast bowlers, so I thought of starting with spin against them.”

LSG made it to their second playoffs in their second season but once again lost the Eliminator contest. However, there were a lot of positives for the franchise as the young players impressed with their skills.