IPL: SRH’s Klaasen reacts after loss to Lucknow Super Giants, reveals what’s hurting the team
SRH lost by 6 wickets to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the opener and then were defeated by 5 wickets by Lucknow Super Giants in their last match. Their only win (65-run victory) came against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Klaasen told JioStar Press Room: “Our batting has been good so far, but we have missed around 40 runs in 3 matches. We need to bat better. We have not been successful with the bat in the two matches where we have struggled. The bowlers, especially the pacers, have been fantastic. We need to get to 220-230 to give our bowlers a chance to defend.” bottom?
“Our fielding was poor and that’s what affected us. I’ll give us 6 out of 10 so far, we’ve played some great cricket step by step but we lost in the crucial stages of the game.
“Bowler is holding on as planned, the rest of the innings is going well. I will give 80 per cent but our fielding needs to improve, we need to keep up our catches. If you have to get to 8-9 in the rating, you need to gain some momentum, you need to bring all three compartments together,” he added.
Klaasen, who retired from all forms of international cricket last year and now only plies his trade as a franchisee, has scored consecutive fifties for SRH in his last two matches and is pleased with his form.
“Unfortunately we lost two matches but personally it was a good start for me, especially since I haven’t played much cricket these days. I want to continue the form,” he said. He is also enjoying his role and responsibilities in the number 4 position.
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“This is a role (No.4) that I have played throughout my entire career. In this role, you have to adapt to the situation, my role in the team is to continue even if (Ishan) Kishan, Abhishek (Sharma) and Travis Head leave. My role is in phases, every game will produce a different situation and I just have to adapt to it,” he said.
SRH will next play Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh on Saturday.
I miss Cummins but Kishan was amazing
Klaasen admitted that SRH kidnapped Pat Cummins, who left the camp to return home for a scheduled scan on his injured back. He is expected to rejoin around April 17 if approved by Cricket Australia. In Cummins’ absence, Ishan Kishan is the head of the team.
“Pat is a big miss, he’s got a lot of experience but Ishan is doing a great job. “I don’t think it’s a big concern or concern, we’re in a safe position.
“He (Kishan) has been excellent so far, he wants advice. His decision-making, his bowling changes have been very good. He’s not an arrogant guy so he makes things easy. I’ve enjoyed playing under his captaincy.
MSD’s absence does not make much difference for CSK
Klaasen said that he felt the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the leadership front of Chennai Super Kings, but not so much as a wicketkeeper.
Dhoni, who is probably playing his last IPL, is yet to feature in the tournament for CSK due to his recovery from his calf injury.
SRH will face CSK at home on April 18 before traveling to Chennai for the rematch on May 18.
“CSK have an incredible IPL record. Even if Dhoni is not there, they are not a very weak side. They are a very strong side. It will not be an easy match. They are always a good, tough side.
“With Dhoni not being there it doesn’t really make much of a difference, it’s more about the other guys. I think the crowd will be a little quieter with Dhoni not there. I don’t think his absence will have that big of an impact other than his leadership. He’s only been coming to bat for 5-10 balls in the last few years,” he said.
Klaasen said CSK has a good batting line-up and needs to bowl a few more dot balls.
“Shivam (Dubey) is in good form, the two openers (Sanju Samsom and Ruturaj Gaikwad) are also fantastic, we just need to tighten them up a bit more.
The 34-year-old South African player, who came out to bat in the midfield, said he enjoyed competing against the spinners.
“Obviously, I’ve played a lot of four-day cricket, I’ve played a lot against spinners. I’m used to playing against the spin of the ball.
“I have been coming to India for the last 5-6 years and I have experience of playing spin. I also played in Sri Lanka in the early stages of my career. I am very lucky to have the skill of playing against spin but still it is a big challenge because they (spinners) are coming for me and I am going after them,” he said.
