Aakash Chopra, the renowned commentator and former opener commented that the manner in which Kings XI Punjab lost the match against Kolkata Knight Riders was beyond his understanding.
He was of the opinion that KXIP showed how a match already won can be lost as despite KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal putting up a 115 run opening partnership, KXIP lost to KKR who were without the services of Andre Russell who was injured and didn’t bowl.
Aakash Chopra: KXIP Showed How A Won Match Can Be Lost
KKR batted first and posted 164/6 and KXIP started superbly but fell two runs short of KKR’s total despite opener KL Rahul scoring 74. Mayank Agarwal too scored 56, but the others failed to score big runs.
Prabhsimran Singh batted ahead of the likes of Glenn Maxwell and Mandeep Singh. He scored only four off seven balls, and Glenn Maxwell’s five balls unbeaten 10 was in vain as KXIP failed to score 14 runs in the final over bowled by Sunil Narine who was reported for suspect bowling action.
“Kings XI Punjab showed how a won match can be lost. It was shocking because I didn’t feel they can lose that match.”
“Kings XI Punjab had restricted KKR to a total they could have easily chased. But what they did was beyond my understanding. Because if you have such an opening partnership and you are chasing a modest total, then you walk towards the victory.”
“There were no worries when Mayank got out. KXIP needed 48 runs in 5 overs with 9 wickets in hand. Nicholas Pooran got out after hitting for a while, then also there were no worries.”
“But when Pooran got out, they sent in Prabh Simran, neither Mandeep who was playing his 100th IPL match nor Maxwell, whom you have bought after paying a huge sum of money.”
“They sent Prabhsimran, who has just started playing, he is batting well but has just come. So he tried to find his feet in the first 2-3 deliveries and in that while, the asking rate starts mounting. I actually tweeted at that time that surely Punjab can’t lose but they did end up losing,” Aakash Chopra added.
Mayank Agarwal was dismissed when the score was 115 in the 15th over, but then Nicholas Pooran came to the crease. They took the score to 144 in the 18th over but could add only 18 runs losing four wickets in the next two overs. They lost two wickets in the 19th, and Mandeep Singh was out for a duck in the penultimate delivery of the final over.
Aakash Chopra criticized Kings XI Punjab’s selection policies and team management for losing the game against KKR despite being on top while chasing 165. Aakash Chopra was baffled by the decision to send Prabh Simran Singh ahead of big hitter Glenn Maxwell or Mandeep Singh which probably cost them the match.
Aakash Chopra: Scales Were Tilted In Favour Of KXIP As Andre Russell Couldn’t Bowl Because Of Injury
Sunil Narine bowled the last over where 14 runs were needed. His 18th over probably changed the match as he gave away only two runs and picked up Nicholas Pooran’s wicket. Prasidh Krishna bowled well in the 19th over conceding only six runs besides picking up crucial wickets of KL Rahul and Prabh Simran Singh.
“Andre Russell was injured and couldn’t bowl, so the scales were tilted in favour of Kings XI Punjab that they would chase the target easily as he was bowling at the death for KKR.”“But Prasidh Krishna bowled a good 19th over, where Rahul who was going to go with the Man of the Match and all the accolades got out and then Narine bowled a good 20th over and that’s it, game over.”
“Maxwell came for sure, but the ball landed inside the field by a very small margin and KKR won the match by 2 inches and 2 runs.”“Kings XI Punjab, one win in seven matches, their campaign is perhaps as good as over. May be there is a comeback but it looks very very difficult,” he added.