Miracles do happen: Sanjay Bangar on KXIP’s chances of reaching last-four
Having suffered their sixth defeat in eight games, the chances of Kings XI Punjab chief coach Sanjay Bangar knows only too well that the campaign for last year’s finalists are all but over and he is now hoping for a “miracle” to get into the last-four stage.
The former India all-rounder said that he would take the blame for team’s poor run even though the performance of his batsmen disappointed him.
“No one has clicked and that’s why we are in this position. But there is no reason why tide can’t be turned. If I was given credit for last year’s good show, I should take the blame for this year’s poor show too.”
KXIP lost by nine wickets to Daredevils to remain at the bottom of the eight-team table.
“Miracles do happen. There have been occasion and teams have turned it around. We will take one game at a time and we are expecting a turn around,” Bangar said.
The coach defended the exclusion of Glenn Maxwell and Murali Vijay from the squad.
“Marsh and Miller have won us the games and Bailey too has contributed. Unfortunately some one had to miss out and it was Maxwell.”
“Vijay got seven opportunities in a row but could not give us good starts. Viru (Virender Sehwag) being the local boy here knew the conditions, so he was picked,” Bangar explained the logic behind the decision making.
“We saw the wicket was low and slow and we though Thisara Perera’s batting would be handy and he can bowl wicket-to-wicket. That was the reason for his inclusion,” Bangar said while explaining further.
Now KXIP will travel back to Mohali for their home game but the home advantage hardly matters said India’s assistant coach.
“You need to play good cricket to end up on the winning side.”
