IPL 2020: Eoin Morgan Disappointed At His Partnership With Shubman Gill Not Growing Further

Eoin Morgan’s Kolkata Knight Riders had a night to forget in Sharjah as Kings XI Punjab thumped them by eight wickets. Half-centuries from Mandeep Singh and Chris Gayle were enough for Kings XI Punjab to gun down a target of 150 with more than an over to spare. The 33-year old lamented the partnership between him and Shubman not growing more than 81.

After losing the toss in the 46th game of IPL 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders found themselves reeling at 14-3 at one stage. It all came down to Shubman Gill and Eoin Morgan to steer their side to a formidable score. The pair put 81 for the fourth wicket before Ravi Bishnoi snapped the captain’s scalp. Gill was the sole half-centurion as the two-time champions managed a below-par 149 in 20 overs.

Mandeep Singh and KL Rahul got the team off to a steady start, adding 47 in about eight overs. Mandeep Singh, who was one off eight deliveries at one stage, began flexing his muscles. The right-handed batsman added 100 for the second wicket with Chris Gayle to put KXIP in sight of victory. Gayle perished to Lockie Ferguson when KXIP needed only three runs; however, Mandeep ensured their side coasted home.

“Going into the last two, our fate is in our hands” : Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan highlighted that in Sharjah, a team has to counterattack when losing wickets early. Eoin morgan underlined the importance of a mammoth partnership when the Knight Riders were three down, feeling that 185-190 would have been competitive. However, their team kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The left-handed batsman, who scored 40 in this game, stated that the last two fixtures are must-win ones for them.

“Particularly here in Sharjah you have to counterattack if you lose wickets early. Disappointing our partnership couldn’t get more. When we were three down, it was about getting a partnership. We thought 185-190 would have kept us in the game, wouldn’t have been a match-winning total by any stretch. But we kept losing wickets. That’s the nature of the tournament. There aren’t many bad sides. Going into the last two, our fate is in our hands. If we win those two, we should be in a reasonably good position,” Morgan told in the post-match presentation.

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