IPL 2018: Humbled Kings XI Punjab look to learn from Chennai Super Kings

Talking to media post Kings XI Punjab’s exit, coach Brad Hodge heaped praise on Chennai Super Kings and hoped that in future, his team learns the lessons.

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) coach Brad Hodge on Sunday hoped that in future his team would be able to draw lessons from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who handed them a five-wicket defeat and exit from Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 here. (CSK v KXIP HIGHLIGHTS)

Kings XI Punjab were knocked out of IPL 2018 after their loss to Chennai Super Kings on Sunday.(BCCI)

Chennai’s impressive win was bolstered with the surprise promotions of Harbhajan Singh (19) and fast bowler Deepak Chahar (39) ahead of the likes of MS Dhoni and others while chasing 154. (CSK v KXIP SCORECARD)

Talking to media post KXIP’s exit, Hodge heaped praise on Chennai and hoped that in future, his team learns the lessons.

“I think the reality is that MS (Dhoni) and his side are in a position to be able to pull those moves and have the confidence of doing it. We know that MS would do that sort of creative stuff and that is why he is a champion and that is why he has got a champion team,” Hodge said.

He added, “We look to emulate such things and we know we are short in experience compared to this Chennai Super Kings side. But hopefully over the coming years, whatever group comes together learns those traits and have courage as well, to be able to that with their group and have trust to get the job done.”

Much to his disappointment, the KXIP coach admitted once again that batting let down his team. Needing to win the contest by at least 53 runs or more, Punjab scored 153.

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Hodge said, “It was always going to be a tough ask. Our gameplan was to get 200 and hopefully try and restrict (CSK) as best as possibly we could. But at 16 for three the target was probably unrealistic. I think we showed great fighting spirit out there, we did not get over the line… the score was below-par.”

KXIP’s defence saw Ankit Rajpoot claiming 2/19, but their captain Ravichandran Ashwin came out to bowl only in the 11th over.

“Yeah, we felt that we had to try and exploit the wicket as early as possible. We knew that the fast bowlers were the ones who were going to do that. We also knew we had to bowl them out, under 100,” Hodge expressed.

“To be able to do that you chuck all your eggs into one basket and we had our chances as well. I thought we bowled well and put them under pressure. We created chances but just missed a couple. Having said that, the effort and energy was right there. We knew what we had to do. But we were probably short of the mark with the bat again,” he added.

Hodge admitted that KXIP’s performance this year was ‘bits and pieces’.

“Unfortunately we just thought we have not had the opportunity to put together, in games, consistent performance with (both) bat and ball and in field. Those three aspects have been bits and pieces throughout the season and it is the indictment of where we sit at the end of the year,” Hodge said.