IPL 2021: PBKS skipper KL Rahul asks for ball change in the second innings to avoid ‘huge disadvantage’

KL Rahul, the Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper, has called for a change of balls in the second half of a T20 innings at venues like the Wankhede Stadium. He reckons that with dew playing a major role, the chasing teams get a massive advantage. Rahul’s comments came after the Punjab-based team lost to the Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets on Sunday at the iconic venue in Mumbai.

PBKS put forth a target of 196 for the Capitals to chase down but Rishabh Pant and Co accomplished the same with 10 balls to spare. Rahul was of the opinion that though the bowlers practice with the wet ball, implementing the tactics during matches under pressure can be an arduous task.

I asked the umpires to change the ball a couple of times: KL Rahul

“When we come to Wankhede, bowling second is always a challenge. We as a bowling unit try to prepare for such conditions. But again, it does get difficult in a game situation and against these quality batters,” Rahul told after the match.

“I think so (if the ball should be regularly changed during the 2nd innings), I think that will only be fair to the team bowling second. I’m not saying that because I’m on the losing side. That’s only fair that teams bowling second don’t have such a huge disadvantage,” he stated.

“Bowlers try to practice their skills with the wet ball, but it’s always difficult to do that when you go on the field under pressure. I asked the umpires to change the ball a couple of times, but it’s not in the rule book so that’s how the game goes and we need to take it,” he added.

In the second innings, it was Shikhar Dhawan’s 49-ball 92 with 13 fours and two sixes that denied PBKS a win. Rahul scored a 51-ball 61 and he got the apt support from Mayank Agarwal, who scored 69 runs off 36 balls with seven fours and four sixes.

Placed seventh in the points table with a net run rate of -0.483, Rahul and Co are next scheduled to face David Warner’s Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Wednesday, April 21 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.