IPL 2018: We are not like one of the top champion sides, reckons Ravichandran Ashwin

The Kings XI Punjab have horribly lost their plot in the ongoing edition of the IPL. At one stage of the tournament, they looked like a top side that was certain to make it to the playoffs. Now, with three defeats in a row, they are on the brink of elimination. This is a worrying concern for their skipper Ravichandran Ashwin and their team management.

After the team’s recent defeat against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the weakness of the side was pretty much evident. Neither the batsmen nor the bowlers showed any fight in the game. As per the quotes in India Today, Ravichandran Ashwin, gave a proper assessment of his franchise after the game. He has been very outspoken throughout the season about his decisions and his recent remarks were on similar lines.

Ashwin noted that the team does not boast of a very healthy combination of star players. Despite this, they have managed to surprise a lot of people with their performance in the tournament. He feels it is all a matter of luck that they have not qualified for the playoffs just yet.

“We are not like one of the top champion sides to be very honest with you. We are one of the sides that punched way above our weight in the first half of the competition. To be very precise, I did expect a run like this to happen to us but not this much. I thought we would have won a game or two more and already got to 14 or 16 points. It’s just that it did not happen,” Ravichandran Ashwin quoted.

On batsmen letting down

Ravichandran Ashwin looked specifically let down by the batsmen. He remarked that the batsmen have been batting very well in the nets but somehow end up throwing their wickets away in the crunch situations in the matches.

“Whatever talent we got, whatever the franchise believed in buying at the auction, whoever the players were – they have been given opportunities to go out and express themselves. Everytime they go out to bat in the net, they seem to middle the ball but they somehow find a way to get out,” remarked the KXIP skipper.

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