NEW DELHI: Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden didn’t hold back in his criticism of Lucknow Super Giants’ performance in their recent IPL match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Hayden squarely blamed LSG’s batters for their lack of aggression during the crucial innings, a sentiment shared by many cricket pundits.
“I have to call them out. This pitch wasn’t one where you could settle for five runs per over. Somebody needed to show intent. They had one of the slowest Powerplays. That approach took the innings nowhere. When you have players like Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen, the intention should be to score at a rate of 10 runs per over. A total of 160-170 would never be enough,” remarked Hayden during his commentary, highlighting the fundamental flaw in LSG’s batting strategy.
Despite LSG’s head coach, Justin Langer, suggesting that 160 would be a competitive total on the allegedly difficult pitch, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s record-breaking chase quickly dispelled that notion. Travis Head’s explosive unbeaten knock of 89 off just 30 balls, supported by Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 75 not out, highlighted the missed opportunity for Lucknow.
Following the defeat, LSG find themselves in a precarious position in the IPL standings, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Former RCB coach Mike Hesson also weighed in on LSG’s struggles, emphasizing the impact of injuries on their bowling lineup, with key players like Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan missing from action.
“I think yes,” Hesson remarked on Jio Cinema, regarding LSG’s dwindling playoff chances. “With Mayank Yadav missing, they don’t really have that X-factor in their bowling. Even Mohsin Khan didn’t play today. Ravi Bishnoi hasn’t been at his best this IPL. So their bowling attack doesn’t look threatening. Their slide will continue,” he added.
The successive defeats have cast a shadow over Lucknow Super Giants’ campaign in this year’s IPL, raising questions about their ability to bounce back and secure a playoff berth amidst mounting challenges.
