KL Rahul, the Kings XI Punjab captain, said on Thursday (October 1) that he will be sitting down with the coaching staff and management of the franchise to see if they can squeeze an extra bowling option into the side.
KXIP were comprehensively beaten by Mumbai Indians at Abu Dhabi on Thursday by 48 runs and one of the reasons for the loss was not having an extra bowling option as they continued to play with 5 bowlers.
KL Rahul (Image Credit: IPL)
KL Rahul: Another Bowling Option Will Be Nice
In the IPL 2020, KXIP have won only 1 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore by 97 runs. They lost against Delhi Capitals (by Super Over), Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians.
In the last two matches, their bowlers were hit all over the ground as they failed to defend 223 runs against Rajasthan Royals and conceded 191 runs against Mumbai Indians.
“It’s obviously disappointing. Looking back, we could’ve been three wins out of four. This game we made some mistakes. It’s important we come back stronger,” Rahul said after the match.
Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) Image Credit: Twitter.
“Another bowling option would be nice – an all-rounder option who can bat and bowl well. Will be sitting with the coaches to decide if we want to play an extra bowler.”
Sheldon Cottrell was hammered for 5 sixes in the match against Rajasthan Royals but bowled well against Mumbai conceding only 20 runs. This time both Krishnappa Gowthan and Jimmy Neesham conceded runs at more than 11 runs per over. All-rounder Glenn Maxwell did not bowl in the match against Mumbai Indians.
KL Rahul: Mayank Agarwal Deserves Orange Cap
KL Rahul also expressed happiness at the fact that his Karnataka and Indian teammate Mayank Agarwal was currently the holder of the Orange Cap by virtue of being the highest run-scorer. He said that he wanted it back soon but was content as Orange Cap stayed with KXIP batsmen.
“Until that Orange Cap stays with Kings XI I’m happy. He (Agarwal) has worked very hard and deserves that cap. I’m sure I’ll take it off him soon.”
For his part, Mayank Agarwal said that his main aim was not to be the highest run-scorer for his team but to play good cricket for them and help them win.
Mayank Agarwal. Image Credit: IPL.
“We are not competing for the cap, we are just looking to play some good cricket. It doesn’t matter who gets the runs, be it Rahul, Maxwell, Pooran or anyone else,” Agarwal said after he was handed the cap.
Mayank Agarwal said his fine form this year comes from adjusting his batting to suit the T20 format and he also drew confidence from his success in international cricket.
“Runs in the international circuit has given me a lot of confidence. In the lockdown I sat down and looked on how things will work in the T20 template. The thought is just about getting into great positions.”
Mayank Agarwal has scored 246 runs and KL Rahul has 239 runs both averaging more than 60. Both have scored 1 century each which other batsmen have failed to do so.
