IPL 2019: VVS Laxman praises ‘mature’ Jonny Bairstow for taking SRH home against CSK

It is not very often we see teams get to beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the defending champions and the most consistent team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Particularly for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), CSK is a team they always eyed to beat this IPL since they lost to MS Dhoni’s side in the final of the 2018 edition after dominating the tournament. And the first time they met in IPL 2019, Kane Williamson’s boys humbled CSK — sans Dhoni who sat out due to a back spasm — by 6 wickets in a home game on Wednesday.

The CSK were clinical in this clash played in Hyderabad in which CSK’s stand-in captain Suresh Raina won the toss and elected to bat. A magnificent bowling display by Rashid Khan (2/17) reduced CSK for 132/5 and the home team overhauled it by 6 wickets and three overs to spare.

SRH mentor VVS Laxman, also a former player of now-defunct Deccan Chargers, was in praise for the team after they scripted the much-required win after three consecutive losses.

Laxman impressed with SRH positive vibes and calmness

Writing for Times of India, the former Hyderabad batsman said: “No matter how skilled you might be as a team, it is extremely difficult to keep self-doubt away when you are sitting on a three-match losing streak. But, I was impressed with the positive vibes and the calmness during Sunrisers Hyderabad’s practice session the evening before our showdown against Chennai Super Kings.”

“Coach Tom Moody and skipper Kane Williamson exhorted the group to focus on the process and not think too much about the outcome. The message was whole-heartedly taken on board, and the result was outstanding,” He also added that the CSK is a strong team even without Dhoni and reminded that they had an 8-2 record against Hyderabad till Wednesday’s game.

Laxman particularly praised the SRH’s Australian-English opening pair of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, who gave them a brisk start to make the target of 133 look even easier. Laxman said while Warner hit the ball rapidly, it was Bairstow’s maturity that that stood out after the former got out and he was determined to negate the dangerous Imran Tahir to see the SRH home.

After putting up 66 runs for the first wicket in less than six overs, the wicket-keeper-batsman remained not out on 61 till the last to ensure that Hyderabad won the game.

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