IPL 2019 | KXIP need to build core group for upcoming seasons, says Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin has stated that the Kings XI Punjab need to build a core group for the upcoming seasons of the Indian Premier League. The Kings had started afresh with a completely revamped squad in the 2018 auctions as they had only retained one player from the previous season.
The Kings XI Punjab under Ravichandran Ashwin had a similar run in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. They started exceedingly well this year with four wins in the first six games but ended up with only two wins in the next eight. KXIP were among the sides which started from scratch in the 2018 season and have held on to a few players like the skipper, KL Rahul, Chris Gayle, Andrew Tye, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and David Miller, among others. As KXIP’s campaign in this year’s Indian Premier League has come to an end, Ashwin gave the example of Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, thereby pointing out that they also need to build a core in a similar fashion.
“I feel that when teams plan and come back to us, we need to respond properly. That's where some teams tick the box - they have played together for a long time. We haven't qualified but we have to build a core group to keep going for the next few seasons. CSK has a fulcrum of how they go about things, same with MI, Sunrisers Hyderabad does it differently. We have to look at that in the future,” he said at the post-match press conference of the encounter between KXIP and CSK on Sunday, reported Cricbuzz.
KXIP’s performance in both batting and the bowling powerplays have been their achilles heel this season. The opening combination has crossed the 40 run mark only five times in 14 games whereas the bowlers have leaked runs at an average of 56 runs in the first six overs. Even in the encounter against CSK, the bowlers had given 42 runs for a loss one wicket. The three time champions went on to score 170 but KXIP, in reply, stitched a hundred run opening stand and went on to win the game comfortably with two overs to spare. The skipper felt that barring the game against SRH, which they lost by 45 runs, the side was not comprehensively outplayed throughout the season.
“It was not easy for us, but we haven't been outplayed much in many games, except against SRH. We just haven't been able to close out the close humdingers. There are a few reasons, we didn't close out games, particularly in the powerplay and our middle overs. We have to post a score that you can defend and some of the best teams do that very consistently,” explained the 32-year-old.
Tamil Nadu spinner Varun Chakravarthy was picked for Rs.8.4 crores in the auctions but was ruled out after one game due to an injury. Ashwin implied that he did not think that the mystery spinner would turn out to be their most expensive buy this season.
“Varun was a massive idea in the auction, so that we didn't have to play a foreign spinner. Auctions are very unpredictable. Many teams have done well because they have retained about five players. I would like to bring forward the vision for a franchise going forward,” asserted the off-spinner.
The skipper did not fail to credit the head coach Mike Hesson before signing off.
“Mike Hesson has done a fantastic job to be honest and I aim to bring a good work ethic coming into the leadership role,” he said.
Rahul had amassed 659 runs at a strike rate at a strike rate of 158.41 in the previous season and has scored 593 runs this time at a relatively slower strike rate of 135.8. However, he smashed 71 off 36 deliveries laced with five sixes and seven boundaries in the encounter against CSK. The World Cup bound opener justified his stand by claiming that his plan was to stay till the end and win matches for his side this season but he played freely in this game as there was nothing to lose.
“I've been holding myself back till the last game, because my role was different - playing 20 overs and holding up one end. We knew there wasn't much left for us in this game. But sometimes, you have to alter your game and play according to how the team wants, but tonight I was playing much more freely,” he expressed.
“It came out very well today, my strike-rate is much higher, but looking back at it from a personal and team point of view, my strike-rate has dropped, but I have won more games for my team this year. You have to curb your shots at times, and if I did that last year, we could have done better. Having runs behind you always helps you play with a lot of freedom and not think too much and just react to the ball - that only helps you when you have runs behind you,” the 27-year-old added.
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