Missing out on the last game was all the motivation Sandeep Sharma needed

Kings XI Punjab skipper Glenn Maxwell stated that being left out of the playing XI against the Sunrisers Hyderabad was the motivation Sandeep Sharma needed to perform outstandingly well against Delhi Daredevils. Sandeep took a four-wicket haul and helped dismiss the visitors within 17 overs.

Glenn Maxwell won the toss and elected to bowl first and bundled out the Daredevils to a paltry total of 67. The right-arm pacer opening the bowling broke the back of Delhi Daredevils top order by taking the prized scalps of Sanju Samson, Sam Billings and Shreyas Iyer in his first spell. He came back in his second spell and dismissed Kagiso Rabada to pick his four-wicket haul. Sandeep also took a blinder in his follow through to dismiss the in-form Iyer.

Maxwell claimed that the seamer has been outstanding with the ball in the powerplay and him missing out against the Sunrisers was the ‘kick on the bum’ he needed to perform well. “He has been outstanding! Bowling three overs in the powerplay is a tough job, but he has taken the job in his stride and he does a great job for us all the time. Probably missing out last game was probably the kick on the bum that he probably needed and you just saw the performance today.” said Maxwell.

“Hopefully he goes on to bigger and better things from now on because he is an outstanding player and we are a better team when he is bowling well for us.To Sandeep’s credit, he asked for the ball which something as a captain I love, guys wanting to bowl. Even in his last over he goes ‘I want that over’. If a guy wants it that bad, he can have it. He was brilliant,” he further added.

After receiving the man of the match award in the post-match presentation, Sharma stated that he was accustomed to the wicket at Mohali as it’s his home ground. “I am the local guy. So, I knew that in an afternoon game it (the wicket) plays a bit slow. My plan was to pitch up and that’s what I was trying to do and it paid off.” said the fast-bowler from Patiala.

With this win, Kings XI Punjab’s hopes of featuring in the playoffs remained intact as they progressed to the fifth position in the points table.