'We must stick to our philosophy in IPL final' - SRH assistant coach expresses faith in team's consistent approach

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are gearing up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 final against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with high spirits and confidence. Assistant coach Simon Helmot has expressed his faith in the team's consistent approach and captain Pat Cummins' leadership.

After a decisive 36-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, SRH are determined to carry the same momentum into the final. Helmot stated confidently that the team must stick to their philosophy as they have done it all season, and it has brought them to the current situation.

"We must stick to our philosophy. We have done it all season, and it has got us into the situation we are now. There won't be any change in our method in the final," Helmot said at the post-match presser, as quoted by Times Of India.

"I'm very proud of the way the team has taken into that even under pressure, and Rahul Tripathi upheld that today. He, Trav, and Klaasen continued that momentum throughout the innings," he added.

The final match is set to take place at Chepauk on Sunday. SRH's batting lineup, featuring Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, and Rahul Tripathi, showcased their prowess by scoring 175/9. Their bowlers then restricted Rajasthan Royals to 139/7, proving the total was sufficient.

Reflecting on the win, Helmot praised the team's pitch assessment and strategic execution. He noted that the wicket looked good, though they likely lost an extra wicket. He highlighted how understanding the slower off-cutters and bouncers was crucial to their bowling strategy in the second innings.

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"As the innings got on, the slower off-cutters and bouncers started working. We got that information into the second innings. "We wanted the ball to get a bit older and bowl it hard into the wicket so that we might get some reaction. And obviously, the spin came into play."

Helmot also commended the spin duo of Abhishek Sharma and Shahbaz Ahmed, who were instrumental in securing the victory.

"The credit goes to the captain. He made decisions at a time when he felt that conditions were conducive to spin. "There were two right-handers at the time, and he felt that a left-arm orthodox spinner would be a good option. As for Abhishek, it might have been his gut feeling, and if it is, what a wonderful decision it was because it changed the complexion of the game.

"Pat and Dan have a very good relationship and are keen to explore different ideas. They give the players the freedom to do what they want to do on the field, and we saw that today."

With the final just around the corner, SRH's strategy and team spirit are set to be the key factors in their bid to clinch the IPL title. As the team prepare to face KKR, fans eagerly await what promises to be an exciting showdown.