PKL 2019 | Whatever new players we had, we wanted to give them a chance, says Jagdish Kumble

Telugu Titans are now out of the race for the playoffs with two games still to go in the league phase. They had an opportunity to register a win against Puneri Paltan and stay alive day before yesterday but they had gone into that game without their experienced corners Vishal Bhardwaj and Abozar Mighani. Both of them sat out in the last game against the Steelers as well which they lost 52-32.

After the game didn’t end in their favour last evening, Telugu’s assistant coach Jagdish Kumble revealed that the management wanted to try out some new players and that is why, they didn’t pick their skipper and former skipper for the previous two matches.  

“I have said since the last match, the management observed that when they performed their best, we won matches. But more often than not, they didn’t click. So, whatever new players we had, we wanted to give them a chance. But anyway, in today’s match, the defence didn’t really work and that’s why we lost,” Kumble told reporters after the game.

Haryana, on the other hand, have ended their home leg with two wins and two defeats. However, a win in the last game at home is a confidence booster for Rakesh Kumar and his boys ahead of the playoffs. The Steelers will be playing one more match before the playoffs and he is of the opinion that some good performances before that is important for the team. 

“I'm a little disappointed that the team was not able to win some of the matches which were well within our grasp. But I am glad we were able to finish our home leg with a win. The best part is that the team is showing some good rhythm in defence as well as raiding,” Rakesh said during the press conference.

“I think this win will do our confidence a world of good going forward. The previous match hurt our morale a little bit, especially when it came to our defence. But in this match the entire team, and especially the defence, has performed well. I think these things will really count in the playoffs because we wanted to go into the playoffs high on confidence.”