IPL 2020 — KXIP coach Anil Kumble: ‘The game was taken away…’

Dubai: After losing a thrilling Super Over contest against Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2020 on Sunday (September 20), Kings XI Punjab’s head coach Anil Kumble has explained what went wrong for his side. In a video posted on the franchise’s Twitter handle, the former India captain also praised opening batsman Mayank Agarwal and said he was “really satisfied” with the way things panned out in their first game of the tournament.

The match ended in a tie and DC won in the Super Over, thanks to Kagiso Rabada’s brilliant bowling. Chasing 158, it was Mayank who single-handedly took the team to the doorstep of victory. However, he could not finish things off when only one run was needed from the final three balls bowled by Marcus Stoinis.

Mayank was dismissed for a superb 89 and off the final ball of the game Chris Jordan fell, resulting in a tie. In the Super Over, KXIP lost both their wickets (captain KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran) for just two runs. DC easily scored the required three runs without losing a wicket.

Speaking on the match, Kumble pointed out that the game was taken away from them in the final three overs when they were bowling. It was the time when Stoinis was in blistering form. He scored a 21-ball 53 and was dismissed in the final over. DC scored 30 runs in the 20th over of the innings.

“Really proud of the way we played today. The game was taken away in the last three overs when we bowled, but having said that once we were five down (55/5) to sort of win the game. Mayank batted brilliantly,” Kumble said.

About the Super Over, Kumble said they needed at least 10 to 12 runs. “Really disappointed towards the end. Maybe we should have won the game, unfortunately, it went to a Super Over and when you go to a Super Over, you at least need 10-12 runs that didn’t happen. Delhi played well as we left them off the hook a little bit, but having said that for the first game of the tournament, really satisfied with the way things have gone. It was a good start and I am sure we will be able to correct whatever little things we need to do on the field in the next game,” he added.

The game was also marred by an umpiring error in the 19th over when Chris Jordan, despite dragging his bat into the crease, was called by Nitin Menon as “short run”. KXIP missed on this single and if it was for this error, they could have won the match. Now, they have lodged an appeal with match referee Javagal Srinath.