We lost the game in the first six to eight overs: Lara

Sunrisers Hyderabad are the second team to be eliminated from the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League after the Orange Army went down by 34 runs against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday, May 15. 

After opting to field first, Bhuvneshwar Kumar scalped a five-wicket haul to restrict the defending champions to 188 runs in the first innings. However, the top order of the visiting side crumbled under pressure as they lost six wickets for 49 runs under seven overs. 

In the post-match press conference, Brian Lara rued lack of partnerships as the reason behind Sunrisers' dismal outing in this edition. "We sort of lost the game in the first six to eight overs where we were unable to get a partnership together.”

"Klaasen has to be given credit. He has been tremendous throughout the season, many times playing sort of a lone hand. Today was another exceptional innings. I sit in the dugout, and I never lose hope when Klaasen is out there, and he has been special for us. We have to hold our hands up and know that it was not a good batting performance," he added. 

While the batting unit of the Orange Army has been under pressure to perform, the bowling resources as well have not been up to the mark, with Umran Malik having a lukewarm season. 

The right-arm pacer has featured in seven league matches and scalped five wickets at an average of 35.2 and conceded at an economy rate of 10.4 runs per over, which has led to his ouster from the playing XI. 

"You just have to look at the form of the player. We have great expectations of Umran, and he has got Dale Steyn to work with. But we have to play each game to win."

"We have to put our best eleven out on the field. And now, with the Impact Player, our best 12. It’s strictly on the fact that it’s about the form of the player that we look at before picking the team," Lara added. 

The Head Coach of the side also heaped praises on Kartik Tyagi and hailed him as a special talent for the team in the coming years. "We have 25 players, and I would have liked you to ask about Tyagi because he is also a special talent, and he’s only had one opportunity so far."

"I can’t see anything wrong in terms of selection. I just feel that every time the team gets on to the park, we are not playing the cricket that we are supposed to,” he concluded. 

Sunrisers Hyderabad will lock horns against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Thursday, May 18, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.