Sunrisers Hyderabad's Travis Head, centre, greets Lucknow Super Giants after winning the match. (AP Photo)
NEW DELHI: Former Australian opener
Matthew Hayden
didn't mince his words in a scathing assessment of Lucknow Super Giants' performance in their IPL encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Hayden blamed LSG's batters for their lack of intent during the crucial innings, echoing widespread sentiments among cricket pundits.
"I have to call them out. This is not five runs per over wicket.
Somebody needed to show intent. They had one of the slowest Powerplays. That took the innings nowhere. When the opposition team has
Travis Head
, Heinrich Klaasen, your intention should be to go at 10s and over. 160-170 will never be enough," Hayden remarked while doing commentary, pinpointing the fundamental flaw in LSG's approach to batting.
Despite LSG's head coach,
Justin Langer
, suggesting that 160 would be a competitive total on the allegedly difficult pitch, Sunrisers Hyderabad's record-breaking chase swiftly debunked that notion. Travis Head's explosive unbeaten knock of 89 off just 30 balls, supported by
Abhishek Sharma
's blistering 75 not out, underscored the missed opportunity for Lucknow.
Following the defeat, LSG find themselves in a precarious position in the IPL standings, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Former RCB coach
Mike Hesson
emphasized the impact of injuries on LSG's bowling lineup, pointing out the absence of key players like Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan.
"I think yes," Hesson remarked on Jio Cinema, regarding LSG's dwindling playoff chances. "With Mayank Yadav missing, they don't really have that X-factor in their bowling. Even Mohsin Khan didn't play today. Ravi Bishnoi hasn't been at his best this IPL. So their bowling attack doesn't look threatening. Their slide will continue," he added.
The successive defeats have cast a shadow over Lucknow Super Giants' campaign in this year's IPL, raising questions about their ability to bounce back and secure a playoff berth amidst mounting challenges.
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