The game would have been different if we had 10-15 runs more - Wadhera

Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered their third consecutive loss at the hands of the Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday.  They were defeated by four wickets after batting first and putting up 144/7 on a double-paced track. 

Most of the damage for MI was done in the powerplay, as they lost four wickets for just 28 runs and had the worst possible starts. Speaking on their batting struggles, Nehal Wadhera said, “We lost too many wickets in the powerplay, and hence we didn’t get a lot of chances to attack. That time Tilak [Varma] and Ishan [Kishan] were playing, but unfortunately Tilak got run out,” he said. 

“Even when I went out to bat at the end of the powerplay, it was important to build a partnership because we have hitters like [Mohammad] Nabi and [Tim] David at the end. So I think we played according to the situation. However, the game would have been totally different if we had 10-15 runs more,” Wadhera added. 

Ekana is one of the biggest grounds in the country, and on April 30, the track was gripping quite a bit for both the pacers and the spinners. Hence, after losing four at the top, it was quite hard for MI to make a comeback. They did so briefly, with Wadhera scoring 46 and Tim David hitting all the way to a 35* off 18. 

However, the LSG bowlers made it hard for them to get those extra runs that would have won them the game. 

“It was gripping and turning, and it’s also India’s biggest ground. So, sixes and boundaries are not so easy to come by. Like Ishan and I were batting at the start, the game would have been different if we had continued taking our singles and doubles with the hitters to come. Otherwise, Tim batted really well down the order. It’s not easy to hit sixes at will on this ground. You can check its history. But the way he hit was really commendable,” Wadhera said. 

Wadhera is also one of the many players from Punjab who have made an impact at the IPL. The depth of talent there proved itself by winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2023 by defeating Baroda in the finals by 20 runs. 

When asked about the flow of talent from Punjab to the IPL, Wadhera highlighted how Punjab has massively benefitted from its players gaining valuable experience in the IPL. 

“Our 14-15 players are in the IPL. So 3-4 players have to even sit out in the domestics. So when we go and play domestics, there’s no other state whose entire playing eleven plays in the IPL. So every player plays with a responsibility that since we represent an IPL franchise, it’s our duty to make our [domestic] team win.”

“Abhishek [Sharma], Prabhsimran [Singh], Naman Dhir, Harpreet Brar, Arsh [Arshdeep Singh], everyone wants to do well for the team. This year we also won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. So because of the IPL, we gain experience, and then we go there [in the domestics] and execute whatever skills we have.”

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