The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured their first win of the IPL 2024 season, defeating the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 21 runs. While LSG’s batting showcased a collective effort with contributions from Quinton de Kock (54), Nicholas Pooran (42), and Krunal Pandya (43), it was the debut performance of young pacer Mayank Yadav that truly stole the show. Â
Yadav’s impressive bowling display of 3/27 not only earned him Player of the Match honours but also left a significant mark on the match, even drawing praise from the opposition captain.
Dhawan Acknowledges Yadav’s Pace and Bowling Strategy
Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan, despite leading his team to a defeat, took the time to acknowledge the brilliance of the debutant. “They played well,” Dhawan stated at the post-match presentation. “Pity that Livi (Livingstone) got injured, that hurt us, he would have come at 4. We started off well, but Mayank bowled well with his pace. It was nice facing him, I was surprised at his pace.” Â
Dhawan further commented on the challenges posed by Yadav’s bowling approach, revealing, “I wanted to use his pace against him, but he bowled the bouncers and the yorkers well.” This highlights the effectiveness of Yadav’s strategy, as he not only surprised Dhawan with his raw pace but also executed a well-rounded bowling attack with bouncers and yorkers, disrupting the Punjab Kings’ batting rhythm.
Dhawan Analyzes Punjab Kings’ Setback
Dhawan also reflected on the factors that contributed to PBKS’s defeat. He acknowledged the impact of Liam Livingstone‘s injury, stating, “That hurt us, he would have come at 4.” Furthermore, he recognized the effectiveness of LSG’s bowling attack, specifically praising Mohsin Khan, who “kept a good length and suffocated us.” Dhawan admitted to a missed opportunity with a dropped catch, highlighting the importance of such details in close encounters.
“We will have to analyze these defeats, the drop catch did cost us some momentum. That’s something we’ll have to improve going forward,” Dhawan concluded.
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