IPL 2018 | We have learnt a lot from lessons of success and failure, says Brad Hodge

05/20/2018

KXIP coach Brad Hodge insisted that IPL is a tough tournament to maintain a winning streak for a long period of time and they have been learning their lessons from their successes and failures. Kings XI Punjab need a win huge win on Sunday against Chennai Super Kings to make it to the playoffs.

After a dominating performance in the first half of the IPL 2018, Kings XI Punjab slumped dramatically and have lost 6 of their last 7 matches. In their last match, they lost to Mumbai Indians by 3 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday Night and now need a thumping win against CSK in the last league game on Sunday to make it to the playoffs and are dependent on other results as well.

Brad Hodge regarded IPL as a tough tournament to win consistently and insisted that the team has been learning and growing from their experiences. He pointed out that the middle order of KXIP has not been in the mix of things and they have been dependent on a couple of bowlers, which has been the reason for their losses.

"I think this competition is extremely tough to win consistently over a long period of time. We are a new team with a new captain and we have learnt a lot from lessons of success and failure. I think realistically, our middle order hasn't fired as much we would have expected and we are too reliant on a couple of bowlers who have kept us in the game," Hodge was quoted as saying by TOI.

Hodge admitted that the team was not consistent in the cash-rich tournament and pointed out that it has been about individual performances for them and they have not played as a team.

"We haven't had consistency across the whole IPL, where when our match-winners haven't fired, nobody has been able to pick up the pieces. So, for us, I don't think it's going wrong, we have won 7 games like most other teams, if we would have managed to get over the line in couple other close ones then we would have been where we wanted to be but unfortunately, it didn't happen," the former Australian batsman said.

Hodge was disappointed by the team’s position to rely on results of other matches, which is never a good position to be in. He insisted that they would treat their game against CSK in the same way they have treated other games and was hopeful of making an impact against CSK.

"It's difficult. What we will be doing will be we will be watching and waiting for the next 24 hours to see the results of other games. We have unfortunately left ourselves in this position. At the halfway mark we were in a strong position but we have tight losses and now we are in position where we have to watch other teams but we will go about our business today in same fashion, and hope we get a chance tomorrow (afternoon) to make an impact," the head coach added.

Hodge hoped that Mujeeb ur Rahman, who has been a mainstay in the bowling lineup for them, would make recovery from the injury before their must-win game against CSK.

"Mujeeb, I think we will test him out today and hopefully, he will be available for selection tomorrow," he said.