'It has become a pattern and is certainly a difficult pill to swallow' - Head Coach Anil Kumble reacts after PBKS' loss against RR

On 21st September 2021, Kartik Tyagi’s sensational final over helped the Rajasthan Royals (RR) post a win in their opening match of IPL Phase 2 against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). It looked as if the Punjab side had the match in the bag. With just 8 runs needed off the last 2 overs with 8 wickets in hand, the KL Rahul-led side was in the driver’s seat.

But then, the Punjab batsmen panicked in the final stages of the match and the side went down to the Rajasthan Royals by 2 runs. And now, the Head Coach of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) side, Anil Kumble has offered his opinion on Punjab’s defeat.

Kumble admitted that Punjab losing games from winning positions has become a pattern, and added that the message to the willow wielders was to finish the match in 19 overs.

“It has become a pattern. There was a clear message saying that we need to finish this game in 19 overs, and that was the approach. But unfortunately, we let it till the end, and in the last couple of balls, it becomes a lottery with the new batsman coming in,” said Kumble after the match.

Credit to Kartik Tyagi for the way he bowled the last over: Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble also said that credit should be given to Kartik Tyagi for the way the right-arm pacer bowled the final over of the match. Adding that the Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) batsmen did not take the correct options, Kumble concluded by stating that the loss is a difficult pill to swallow for the KL Rahul-led side.

“But, credit to how Kartik Tyagi bowled the last over. It was pretty obvious that he was going to bowl wide outside the off-stump, but somehow our batters did not take the right options. Yes, it has become a pattern, that this is something that we need to discuss and sort out. We do not want to get bogged down by this defeat. It is certainly a difficult pill to swallow,” concluded Anil Kumble.

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) will next be seen in action on 25th September 2021, when they take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad side in Sharjah.