Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth criticised Punjab Kings’ fielding after they suffered a 33-run loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Wednesday. PBKS were sloppy in the field as they could not take their catches and thus had to pay the price.
Ishan Kishan was given three lives as he was dropped on 9 and 18 by Copper Connolly and Lockie Ferguson respectively. Furthermore, Prabhsimran Singh missed a stumping chance when Kishan was on 20 runs. Kishan eventually went on to score 55 runs off 32 balls.
Moreover, Heinrich Klaasen’s catch was bungled when he was on nine by Shashank Singh. The South African batter went on to score 69 runs off just 43 balls to help SRH post 235 runs on the board.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “PBKS have got a harsh reality check after this match. The better bowling team will only win these matches from now on. PBKS are struggling with their horrendous bowling. They are not able to do anything with this ordinary bowling. Also, PBKS have no chance if they field like this. They’ve dropped 18 catches this season, and every match, someone drops a catch for them. How can you win if you keep dropping catches?”
The 1983 World Cup-winning player questioned PBSK for not playing left-arm orthodox spinner Harpreet Brar in their team against SRH.
“They should have played Harpreet Brar in this match. There was grip and stickiness in the wicket. You can’t keep saying that I’ll chase down 225, 240, or 260. Sometime or the other, the openers will give in. It’s too much pressure as openers to score 12 runs per over straightaway all the time. They are giving 200+ every match. You can’t survive like this. 100% Harpreet Brar has to play, and two spinners must play.”
Srikkanth added that PBKS struggle when their openers – Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya – don’t give them good starts. While Singh was dismissed after scoring three runs, Arya could only manage one run against SRH.
“They’ve started sorting him out with short balls. He looks amazing when he’s scoring. But he has already gotten out to the short ball multiple times this season. For Prabhsimran Singh, teams have started targeting the hard lengths. They know he will smash it for six when it’s in his range. But hard lengths, he skies it up in the air. PBKS are struggling when these two don’t give them good starts,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
Punjab Kings will next take on Delhi Capitals at Dharamsala on Monday.
