NEWS
Follow UsSunrisers Hyderabad have failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs for the first time in five years with their struggles from the first round catching up with them in the second dig. Inconsistent batting form, bowlers' lack of incisiveness played a massive part in SRH's downfall. However, they have failed to identify and plug the holes in the second leg with any sort of authority and skipper Kane Williamson has admitted the same in the post-match interview.
"We haven’t been able to identify the right score all season. We need to go back to the drawing board and re-assess things. We could have built more partnerships. Unfortunately, we were 10-15 short of what would have been a competitive score," Williamson told Star Sports.
SRH pacer Usman Malik, who had come in as a Covid replacement for T Natarajan, breathed fire with the ball, and that made KKR openers uncomfortable in the initial overs. Shubman Gill had problems countering his swing and Williamson backed the youngster to come good in the future even though the side is out of the playoffs contention.
"He (Malik) has been bowling really quick in the nets and it’s really nice for him to get an opportunity today. Obviously, we’re out of the competition, so it’s a chance for some other boys to also get on the park," the Kiwi man added.
KKR will play their last league game against Rajasthan Royals on October 7 and that game will have a lot riding on the qualification race depending on the result of the MI-RR game.