Hardik Pandya: Rashid’s catch to dismiss Mayers was ‘match-changing’
Hardik Pandya has hailed Rashid Khan‘s athletic outfield catch to dismiss Kyle Mayers that broke Lucknow Super Giants’ robust opening stand as a “match-changing” effort, after Gujarat Titans prevailed by 56 runs in Ahmedabad.
Chasing 228, Mayers had powered to 48 off 31 balls in a partnership of 88 with Quinton de Kock in simply 8.1 overs. Then, he top-edged a pull over sq. leg off a Mohit Sharma slower ball. Rashid got here sprinting in, working diagonally from fantastic leg, then slid and dived to take the catch to his proper after making a last-minute adjustment.
Super Giants misplaced momentum after dropping Mayers and scored solely 33 runs between overs 9 and 14, leaving them with an excessive amount of to do within the final six.
Hardik mentioned that Rashid’s catch was the game-changer at a time when his group was underneath strain. “The way the game changed after that… at one point of time at the eighth or ninth over we were even-stevens but that catch just changed the momentum and we were able to squeeze in a couple of tight overs,” he mentioned after the match. “And after that I think they were chasing the game more than us.
“We began controlling the sport. Before that they have been taking [us] on and we needed to chase the sport and guarantee that we do not concede as many runs and allow them to get into the sport. So I feel that catch was match-changing.”
“I feel we each have been driving at 100 kilometers per hour as a group however I feel that bump of their innings price them the sport and acquired us again within the sport.”
Hardik additionally praised his team-mates for producing a match-winning efficiency after solely sooner or later’s relaxation. Titans’ last game was on Friday night time and their match towards Super Giants was the afternoon sport on Sunday.
“I do not suppose I can ask something higher from the boys, Hardik mentioned. “Especially, playing after one day’s gap and playing an afternoon game, the boys showed up and how.”
Mohit, who gave Titans that important first wicket, completed with 4 for 29, his greatest figures within the IPL since 2014. He has 12 wickets in eight matches in IPL 2023 with an economic system price of 6.96 regardless of bowling a lot of his overs on the dying.
“We keep discussing how to go about it, especially once the ball gets a little old how we can mix it up,” Mohit informed broadcasters after the sport. “And if I get the chance with a new ball, then what can I do with it. Today it was a day game so I knew that the wicket could get a little drier and be on the slower side so how we can mix it up in those conditions, that’s the kind of stuff I discuss with Shami.
“I’ve practiced the knuckle ball, however I’ve a slight harm on my fingers so it isn’t holding, so I’m not in a position to bowl the knuckle ball. But I’m utilizing back-of-the-hand deliveries. When it is the second innings and there is a little bit of dew, I can not pitch it up an excessive amount of, I’ve to bowl it away from the batter. So I’m making an attempt to remain as removed from the batter’s vary as attainable.
“I keep talking with Ashu Pa [Nehra] off the field. We talk a lot about bowling, what kind of balls I can bowl to different batters. Especially how we can mix up the length ball,” Mohit mentioned. “He keeps saying that it shouldn’t be too short. It should be around top of off.”
The win towards Super Giants was Titans’ eighth victory in 11 video games, giving them a three-point lead over Chennai Super Kings on the high of the desk.