IPL 2023: We would have taken 126 but batting-wise we did not execute our plans – Krunal Pandya

Lucknow Super Giants stand-in skipper Krunal Pandya admitted that they could not execute their plans with the bat after having restricted Royal Challengers Bangalore to a modest score of 126 runs at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Monday.

LSG bowlers were right on the money after Faf du Plessis won the toss and decided to bat first. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis added 62 runs for the opening alliance in nine overs.

However, the middle order failed to get going on the slow pitch. Faf scored 44 runs from 40 balls whereas Kohli scored 31 runs from 30 balls.

Meanwhile, Naveen-ul-Haq was the pick of the bowlers for LSG as he scalped three wickets and conceded only 30 runs in his quota of four overs. Furthermore, Amit Mishra and Ravi Bishnoi scalped two wickets each for the home team.

On the other hand, LSG got off to a horrid start, losing four wickets and managing only 34 runs in the Powerplay overs. LSG kept losing wickets at regular intervals and they could not get going in the run-chase. In fact, no LSG batter could go past the 25-run mark and thus they could not get any impetus while chasing.

Krunal Pandya who led LSG after KL Rahul was injured said after the game, “We did pretty well, restricting them to 126 was a great bowling effort. Really happy with how we have bowled in this tournament. We would have taken 126 but batting-wise we did not execute our plans. It is such a sad thing he pulled his hip-flexor. I don’t know how bad it is, the medical team will assess it.”

On the other hand, Josh Hazlewood made a fantastic comeback after injury. The Australian took two wickets and conceded only 15 runs in the three overs he bowled. Thus, he played a key role in skittling out LSG at 108 runs.

He said after the game, “It’s been a long layoff, a bit nervous getting out there. Great to be out there in front of some good fans. The wicket looked quite tough, would have liked a few more runs. It was super loud (the venue) for both teams and it (intensity) gets the crowd up and the team up as well.”

Lucknow Super Giants will next face Chennai Super Kings at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Wednesday.