IPL 2020: 'It really hurts': Mayank Agarwal After Failing To Close The Game Against DC

Mayank Agarwal did everything he could to take Kings XI Punjab over the line against Delhi Capitals but failed agonizingly short of the same. The right-handed batsman played a stunning knock of 89 to keep his side in the hunt while they were chasing 158 but failed to close the game when Kings XI Punjab needed only 1 from the last three balls.

Chasing 158, Kings XI Punjab were off to a disastrous start. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and found them reeling at 55 for 5 at one stage. At that time, the game looked as good as over for them as KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan and Glenn Maxwell were already back in the hut.

However, Mayank Agarwal held from one end and played a stunner to keep his team in the hunt. He combined with K Gowtham for a 46-run stand that raised his side’s hopes. The India Test opener reached his fifty off 45 balls with the first of the two sixes he hit off Mohit Sharma in the 18th over.

The equation was finally down to 13 runs off the last over bowled by Marcus Stoinis. Mayank Agarwal started in the best possible fashion by dispatching the first ball for a six. The next two balls were hit for a couple and a four. With 1 run needed off the last three balls, Kings XI Punjab were the favourites to clinch the game.

But what followed thereafter was completely unexpected. The right-handed batsman missed the fourth delivery before being dismissed on the fifth. On the final delivery, Chris Jordan was dismissed too, taking the game to the super over. In the one-over decider, Kings XI Punjab managed just 2 runs before Rishabh Pant sealed the game for Delhi.

Mayank Agarwal’s reaction:

Unsurprisingly, the Kings XI Punjab opener was distraught over his failure to close the game after doing all the hard work. Speaking after the game, he pointed out the positives from the game before expressing his disappointment over the loss. He said that it was a terrible feeling not to close the game.

“We had a tough day. There are lot of positives to take out from the game. The way we came back was fantastic, the way we bowled with the new ball was terrific. 

“It really hurts to not close off the game from the situation we were in. It feels terrible,” he said before adding: “Wrong side of the things. Should have finished the game.”

We feel you, @mayankcricket! ?#SaddaPunjab #WakhraSquad #DCvKXIP #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/jPoutwF6DC

— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) September 20, 2020

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