IPL 2018: Five Biggest mistakes teams committed in the fifth week

The group stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 is in its home stretch, with just a handful of matches remaining to be played. While the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have qualified for the playoffs already, the tussle to occupy the remaining 3 play-offs spots is ongoing and intense. However, in this race, not all teams have been faultless and some of these mistakes have even cost their respective sides important matches.

Be it sending in the wrong player up the order or giving the ball to a relatively inexperienced youngster against a quality side, several teams have erred in making some crucial judgement calls. As we approach the last week of the group stage clashes of the ongoing tournament, let’s take a look at the 5 biggest follies teams committed in the fourth week of IPL 2018.

1. KXIP team management sending in R Ashwin at No.3

“You’ve not qualified until you’ve qualified” is a phrase the KXIP team management needs to repeat and re-repeat to themselves before they take drastic measures to shake up a winning team order. One such move that cost KXIP dearly was the decision to send Ravichandran Ashwin up the order to bat at No.3, that too in a run-chase situation against the Rajasthan Royals (RR).

Although Ashwin is credited as a batsman armed with good technique, it was bizarre to expect that the man who’s perpetually used to batting down the order will be able to hammer away from the word ‘go’. As a result, the ace spinner ended up getting dismissed for a duck on the very second delivery he faced. Not only did it cost KXIP a wicket, but left a severe dent in the team’s confidence and they ended up on the losing side by 15 runs.