Former Indian player Virender Sehwag has said that Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul would have been blamed if the team faced another loss against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday. Incidentally, Rahul scored a 55-ball 67 in their chase of 166. But with just four runs needed off the last five deliveries, Rahul smashed the glory shot and holed out at long-off off Venkatesh Iyer.
While speaking at CricBuzz live, Virender Sehwag expressed his disappointment with the thought process of KL Rahul. He also added that had Shahrukh Khan’s controversial catch been adjudged out by the third umpire, they would have lost the match as well.
“He didn’t fulfill his responsibility; had he finished off the game after scoring 46 off 42 balls, then I would have said that he did his job. If Shah Rukh Khan’s catch was adjudged out and had Punjab lost the game then the entire blame would have fallen on Rahul,” Sehwag said.
“His thought process was wrong” – Virender Sehwag on KL Rahul
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Sehwag further added that even if Rahul remained unbeaten till the end with a poor strike rate, it would have been praising as the job done well.
“If you need only 5 runs off six balls, take five singles and finish off the game, what is the need to go for a six? Even if had stayed unbeaten in the end, I would have said he played a captain’s knock,” Virender Sehwag said.
”He may get the “Player of the Match” award, but his thought process was wrong. Imagine if Shah Rukh hadn’t scored that 9-ball 22, KL Rahul would have lost the game given his strike rate. I am not happy with his approach; he needs to learn the art of finishing games,” Sehwag again shared.
Punjab Kings will next take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday.
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