“It was a close game but it could have finished better,” rued Robin Uthappa shortly after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
“We had the ability and potential but it’s better we face these situations early in the tournament and come back strongly later,” he said.
Asked if only Johan Botha was effective in the spin troika, he said, “When two batsmen build up a partnership, the pressure is on the bowlers.”
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He was all praise for David Warner, who he said played a sensible innings and read the wicket well as a captain. His partnership with Shikhar Dhawan laid a strong foundation, he felt.
Warner felt good that the SRH wickets didn’t fall in clumps. “Credit to Shikhar for playing a sheet anchor role and to the bowlers for finishing well,” he said.
“We didn’t expect to take on three spinners early in the innings but our gameplan was to see them off,” he recalled.
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“I asked the bowlers to back themselves. They were very clinical and they executed the plans well,” he said when complimenting the bowlers.
“The catches need working on,” he opined of the spilt chances early in the KKR innings.
“Bhuvi works on his death bowling and I let the bowlers set their own fields,” the contented captain said as he didn’t see any reason to intervene with changes.
On the choice between Trent Boult and Dale Steyn, he said the latter’s raw pace and swing tilted the scales in his favour.
On whether leading the side would affect his game as an opener, he said, “It’s good to lead from the front and I enjoy being an opener wherever and in whatever format.
“Full credit to the guys who have made me feel at home with the captaincy,” he added.