We need to be more clinical: LSG assistant coach Lance Klusener

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) entered the clash against Rajasthan Royals on April 27 (Saturday) having enjoyed a dream week, having done the double over Chennai Super Kings (CSK), but the Super Giants’ two-match winning streak was brought to a halt at home by a rampant RR, who handed KL Rahul’s side their fourth defeat of the season.

LSG were sent into bat after losing the toss, and the hosts responded with a pretty decent batting performance, putting up 196 runs on the board. However, the target was eventually chased down with ease by RR, who got home with an over to spare, losing just three wickets.

On the night, Lucknow couldn’t penetrate through the RR side despite having opportunities to do so, and in the aftermath of the defeat, the side’s assistant coach Lance Klusener said that, going forward, the team will have to be far more clinical if they are to go deep in the tournament.

“We just need to be a little more clinical. Winning the IPL is about teams making sure that they’re on the top of everything - batting, bowling and fielding,” Klusener said at the post-match press conference.

“We’re doing a lot of good stuff, but in patches. For us to go deep in the competition, we need to ensure that we’re putting all those little things together. We can’t just bat well and not bowl well. We need to make sure that we put everything together.”

The LSG assistant coach, however, said that his side are still in a very strong position despite the defeat. 

“The good thing is that we are in a very strong position; our destiny is still very much in our own hands,” Klusener said.

On the night, LSG skipper Rahul took a few curious tactical decisions, including not introducing Ravi Bishnoi until the 16th over of the RR chase. Klusener said that Rahul held back the young leggie since he felt there wasn’t a lot going on for the spinners on the surface.

“I didn’t think there was much in the wicket for the spinners. I think that’s why KL held Ravi Bishnoi back,” Klusener said.

Rahul also used as many as seven bowlers, and kept chopping and changing his bowlers, even giving the ones who took wickets just one-over spells. The LSG assistant coach said that Rahul simply wanted to keep the RR batters guessing.

“I think the captain was making sure that the RR batters didn’t settle.

“I think the only thing we can go back and look at is the execution of the bowlers, we didn’t land enough balls in the right place.”

Asked whether LSG were at a disadvantage because they batted first, Klusener said that it’s up to the teams to maximize totals while batting first. He hinted that LSG did not do that on the night.

“Regardless of whether you bat first or bat second, you need to bat properly. So even if you bat first, you need to maximize the score that’s available on the wicket. I’m not too sure if there’s an advantage,” the LSG assistant coach said. 

“In T20 cricket mostly, the wicket stays the same. The advantage while batting second is that you do know the score you’re chasing. But I think regardless of whether you bat first or bat second, you need to do it properly.”

The RR clash on April 27 (Saturday) also did not witness the return of tearaway quick Mayank Yadav. When could LSG potentially have the young quick back in the XI?

“You will see Mayank [Yadav] very shortly,” Klusener said.

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