Punjab Kings batting coach Wasim Jaffer (Pic Credit: PBKS)
Wasim Jaffer admitted that the planning of the Punjab bowlers could have been better after bowling first.
Punjab Kings batting coach Wasim Jaffer has backed the bowling unit to make a strong comeback in IPL 2023 after they were cleaned up by the Lucknow Super Giants batting line-up in their comprehensive 56-run defeat at the IS Bindra PCA Stadium.
The pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran conceded 144 runs between them in 11 overs as Lucknow posted 257/5, the highest score of the competition. In response, Punjab could manage only 201 runs in 19.5 overs and reached the sixth position in the points table.
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“Don’t think there is any serious concern (about the bowling attack) because they defended three times in tough conditions,” he said. Be it against Mumbai or against Rajasthan, even in the first match in Kolkata.”
“The bowling unit has always done well for us this season. Friday was one of those days when everything was clicking for the opposition and we were a bit clueless. Jaffer said in the press conference after the match, our bowlers will make a strong comeback.
Jaffer admitted that the planning of the Punjab bowlers could have been better after bowling first. He said, ‘You can say that our plan failed but it is the practice of all the IPL teams that they bowl first after winning the toss. Chasing a target is always difficult when the opposition scores 257. We could have bowled better.”
IPL 2023: purple cap See the full list of bowlers with the most wickets here
“The way they (LSG batsmen) started in the powerplay and didn’t stop at all, like Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran. When someone plays like this it becomes very difficult. He didn’t lose momentum after the powerplay. It was a holiday for our bowling.”
Jaffer also felt that the Punjab bowlers led by fifties from Marcus Stoinis and Kyle Mayers could have forced the Lucknow batsmen to hit more towards the longer side of the stadium. “Maybe we could have gone to Plan B a little bit more. Like using slower balls more and hitting longer boundaries consistently.”
“They (LSG) did it more effectively and it worked for them. But again, most of their shots were hitting the boundary quite easily, so we have to give them credit for that.”
Punjab’s next match in IPL 2023 will be against four-time winners Chennai Super Kings on Sunday afternoon at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)
