After slumping to their fifth consecutive defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League, Pune Warriors wicket-keeping coach Deep Dasgupta said the Sourav Ganguly-led side was failing to capitalise on crucial moments which was harming their cause.
Published: May 05, 2012, 11:42 PM (IST)
Edited: May 05, 2012, 11:42 PM (IST)
Sourav Ganguly moving down the batting order during clash against KKR was a conscious decision, Deep Dasgupta said © AFP
Kolkata: May 5, 2012
After slumping to their fifth consecutive defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League, Pune Warriors wicket-keeping coach Deep Dasgupta said the Sourav Ganguly-led side was failing to capitalise on crucial moments which was harming their cause.
“There have been a lot of close matches. It was always 50-50 but we lost out on crucial moments. We could have won more often than not,” Dasgupta said at the post match media interaction after Pune lost by seven runs to Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardesn here.
Attributing the loss to their top-order collapse, Dasgupta said, “The first six overs were crucial. We lost too many wickets in the powerplay. That’s how we lost out and could not capitalise on.”
Chasing 151, Pune skipper Ganguly brought himself at the sumber seven position after the visitors were reeeling at 55 for five and Dasgupta said it was a conscious decision.
“He (Ganguly) thought he could finish the game and give other guys the opportunity. It was decided earlier.”
Surprisingly, Pune is yet to utilise Steven Smith’s leg-spin in the tournament, but Deep said, “We have not felt the need as yet. Our spinners are predominantly doing well. (Murali) Kartik, Michael Clarke are doing well.”
The former Bengal skipper said despite playing an away game, the crowd ensured that they felt themselves at home.
“The crowd made us feel at home. They were cheering for both the teams.”
With eight points from 12 matches, their hopes are all but over but Dasgupta still sounded hopeful.
“From a player’s point of view, all matches are important. We will have to win everything. Last game was heart breaking as well. There is an outside chance. At the end, it’s about taking one game at a time.”
Asked whether losing the toss was crucial, he said: “That’s a little bit of advantage batting first on this wicket. But we came back fantastically in the second-half.
Restricting them for 150 was a fine effort.” (PTI)
