IPL 2018: Momentum Does Not Come To Play In The Qualifier: Shreevats Goswami

At a time when each qualified team is looking to gain as much momentum as possible ahead of the playoffs, Sunrisers Hyderabad are headed in the opposite direction. The Kane Williamson-led side was the first team to qualify for the playoffs after winning 9 of their first 11 games. They looked almost unstoppable as they went on to blow away oppositions.

However, since then they have failed to continue the momentum. They lost their next three games with the last one coming against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday. The Knight Riders thrashed the Sunrisers by 5 wickets to make it to the playoffs and leave the one-time IPL champions a lot to worry about ahead of the playoffs.

The Sunrisers were cruising with 92 for 1 on the board after the first ten overs. After Shikhar Dhawan and Shreevats Goswami added 79 runs for the first wicket, Kane Williamson raced to 36 off 16 before he was dismissed. At 128 for 2 in 13 overs, the Sunrisers were looking set for a big total. However, the Knight Riders bowlers came up with a fine show to restrict them.

Prasidh Krishna starred with the ball, picking up 4 for 30. He picked up three wickets in the last over and gave away just four runs to derail Sunrisers’ innings. In the final 10 overs, the Knight Riders gave 80 runs and took eight wickets.

In reply, the Knight Riders chased down the total with two balls remaining.

Speaking after the game, Goswami, who made a 26-ball 35, said the losses would not affect their momentum in the play-offs.

“Momentum does not come to play in the qualifier. Every team will come prepared for the play-off stage. Right now, because we have lost three games, we are more aware of our game and the situation. We will come back strong and assess our weakness,” Goswami told the media.

“In the qualifier, it will be a different ground and a different opposition. Yes, Chennai (the other top-two team) have beaten us twice but the Qualifier is just one game one of them. Momentum is important during league phase, but when it comes to qualifier it’s about how we perform on that particular day.”

As if the losses are not enough, Sunrisers’ bowling, which is their strong point, is also failing to deliver. Goswami feels that teams are now better prepared against them.

“This was the 14th game. Obviously teams are analyzing our videos and are making plans to counter our bowlers. Every day low totals can’t be defended. They are finding ways to be effective against our spinners Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan and others. Teams have come better prepared against us,” Goswami said.

He also said that the Sunrisers were 15-20 runs short from a winning total.

“We got a good opening stand and then once Kane Williamson was out, the runs dried. We got only 30 odd runs in the last five overs. We were probably 15 to 20 runs short. The Hyderabad pitch has been tricky this whole season and today was the best we got. But we did not go for big shots in the middle. The spinners also did not get enough turn at the end and it batting became easier,” Goswami said.