IPL 2019: Mike Hesson Is Confident About KXIP’s Chances To Reach The Playoffs

Apr 22, 2019 at 11:39 AM

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IPL 2019: Mike Hesson Is Confident About KXIP’s Chances To Reach The Playoffs

Despite suffering a defeat against the home side Delhi Capitals (DC) on last Saturday (20th April) night, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) head coach Mike Hesson is still confident about their chances to secure their spots for the playoffs in the ongoing IPL season.

After playing ten matches in the ongoing season, KXIP has earned ten points as they have won five matches and lost the other five matches.

KXIP head coach is happy with KXIP players’ performances in the ongoing season.

After their latest match against DC, Mike Hesson said, “We played good cricket and there was probably only one game, in which we were a bit disappointing, and that was against RCB when we were below our own standards, but outside of that we have actually played very well, I think.”

The destiny is in our own hands

Mike Heson, KXIP
Kings XI Punjab (Image Credit: IPL)

Talking about their chances to qualify for the playoffs in the ongoing season, Mike Hesson believes that the destiny is in their own hands. Though they suffered a five-wicket defeat against DC, the KXIP head coach feels proud for their challenging cricket.

He said in the post-match press conference, “The destiny is in our own hands and, when we come to the back end of the tournament, that’s what you want.

“And you know that if you play well you give yourself good chance of winning. We gave ourselves a decent chance tonight. And I am very proud in terms of the way we played in conditions that were challenging, the way we hung in there, was a good effort.”

Mike Hesson feels 163 was a good first innings total

The DC captain Shreyas Iyer decided to field first after winning the toss. With the help of Chris Gayle‘s firing 69 runs, KXIP managed to score 163/7 (20 overs). Mike Hesson believes that was a good first innings total, but the dew factor dominated in the second innings. He also credited the two DC batsmen, Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer, for their brilliant batting performances.

Mike Hesson said, “It was a good score batting first, the ball was holding a bit, so I think the fact that we looked to attack early on because we knew it was going to get harder as the ball got older, 163, on this surface, was a decent score.

“But, obviously, dew was always going to be a main factor and that was something that was considered at the toss by both sides. We certainly didn’t get the hold in the wicket that we were hoping for. And I thought the way Shikhar (Dhawan) and Shreyas (Iyer) batted, they played low risk cricket and they played well.”

Chasing down that target, the left-handed opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan scored 56 runs off 41 balls. Meanwhile, their captain Shreyas Iyer safely guided the side to the victory after scoring unbeaten 58 runs off 49 balls. Their brilliant batting performances helped DC to reach the target in 19.4 overs after losing five wickets.

Chris Gayle is very unique in terms of the power that he has got

Mike Heson, KXIP
Chris Gayle (Image Credit: IPL)

Mike Hesson praised their Caribbean opener Chris Gayle who scored 69 runs off 37 balls (6 fours and 5 sixes). He also pointed out that losing regular wickets affected their first innings total.

The KXIP coach said, “Chris is very unique in terms of the power that he has got, he was the one guy to take the game away from the opposition. Obviously, we also kept losing wickets, which made it difficult to push on. That’s why I thought the last partnership in the end, between Ashwin and Harpreet Brar, was very important for us.”

In the late moment, Ravichandran Ashwin and Harpreet Brar put a crucial 22-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

KXIP will play their next match against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Bengaluru on 24th April. Though RCB is struggling in this season, KXIP suffered an eight-wicket defeat in their first meeting this season. However, this time KXIP is focusing on changing their fate in the upcoming contest.

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