XtraTime Web Desk: The skipper from Sunrisers Hyderabad, David Warner backed his young guns in the likes of Priyam Garg and Abhishek Sharma after having a disappointing match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Warner asked the young Indian batsmen to “keep playing their natural game” in the other games.
Chasing 164, Sunrisers were in control and was 121/2 at the point. Yuzvendra Chahal then triggered a collapse with back to back wickets. Sunrisers couldn’t held the nerves and lost the match by 10 runs after their young middle order batsmen comprised mainly of inexperienced players failed to succumb the pressure.
The 19-year-old Garg (12) and 20-year-old Sharma (7) couldn’t grab the opportunity as the former was bowled while trying to scoop the ball past the wicketkeeper and the latter fell prey to a terrible mix-up with Rashid Khan.
Vijay Shankar could not even open his account.
Warner, though, said he has faith in young Indian batsmen.
“We wouldn’t have put them (young Indian pair) in the middle overs if we didn’t think they are not good enough,” Warner said in the post-match press conference.
“Anyone who wants to criticise the middle-order batting, … it is something I haven’t seen before — three bizzare dismissals. I encourage them to keep playing their way and not think too much about the scenario or situation out there.
“We rely on our senior players to guide these guys out there in the middle. My message to the youngsters was to play their natural game, that’s the only way one can learn. It can be difficult at times, it is pressure environment.”
Earlier, Warner was unlucky to be run out for six when Umesh Yadav managed to get his finger on the ball in his follow-through and it hit the stumps with the SRH skipper short of the crease.
Warner said the fall of wickets changed the momentum of the game.
“It is difficult to play cross-batted shots in the middle overs. You have to play as straight as you can, you have to make the pace. The ball is going up and down but I felt once two batsmen get in, it is difficult to try (to) contain.
“Obviously wickets changed the momentum. It was disappointing to not have two (set) batters or one (set) batter in the end.”