Bowlers had an off day, could have used a better plan: Wasim Jaffer

Punjab Kings (PBKS) were on the receiving end of a 56-run thrashing at the hands of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), who put on 257 for 5 - the second-highest total in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The LSG top-order made the best of some poor bowling from Punjab, with Marcus Stoinis (72) and Kyle Mayers (54) scoring quick fifties.

PBKS skipper Shikhar Dhawan after the match admitted that playing an extra bowler - Gurnoor Brar - backfired. While agreeing to it, the PBKS batting coach Wasim Jaffer reckons it was an off day for his side's bowlers, but admits that the planning could have been better.

“You can say our plan backfired but then this is the tendency of all the ipl teams that they bowl first after winning the toss. When the opposition scores 257, chasing will always be difficult. We could have bowled better,” said Jaffer during the post-match press conference.

“The way they [LSG batters] started in the powerplay and didn’t stop at all. Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stonis, Nicholas Pooran. When somebody plays like this it becomes very difficult. They didn’t lose the momentum after the powerplay. It was an off day for our bowling."

Jaffer said that the bowlers could have tried and forced the batters to hit on the longer side of the field more consistently.

“We could have used a different plan. Bowled in the larger area, used some slower balls, but we didn’t do that. But we have to credit their batters, they batted brilliantly. It’s one of those days when everything works in the favour of the opponent and you are clueless,” he said.

There was a sliver-lining for PBKS as youngsters Atharva Taide (66 0ff 36) and Jitesh Sharma (24 off 10) showed off their batting prowess, holding PBKS in good stead for the future.

“Atharva Taide who is just playing his third or fourth match, the way Jitesh Sharma played. If we could have managed to restrict the Lucknow batters to 220-230, the match could be different but this is all thinking in hindsight,” the former India opener said.

PBKS are currently sixth in the IPL 2023 points table with eight points in as many games. They will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk on Sunday (April 30).