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‘We can still have some bearing on where the teams finish in the final four’
Our top order did not perform, says Kings XI coach
They might be set to finish IPL-8 in the last spot but Kings XI Punjab skipper George Bailey feels his side has everything to play for a win on Saturday against table-toppers Chennai Super Kings. Also the encounter can have some bearing on where the other teams finish in the final four.
"I think we can still have some bearing on where the teams finish in the final four," Bailey said in Mohali.
About the upcoming game against Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings in Mohali on Saturday, Bailey said: "We have had a good rivalry with Chennai over the last couple of years".
"Hopefully, we can knock them off and finish on a high and that can lead into some momentum for next year," the Australian said.
Asked what would be the approach for the final game, the skipper said, "Much the same. We have worked really hard over the last couple of weeks and it was nice to finally get victory the other night (against Royal Challengers Bangalore)".
When asked if the team had analysed what went wrong, he replied, "We will probably do that at the end of the year".
Even though Chennai Super Kings are virtually assured of a berth in the playoffs, there are other teams which are breathing down their neck vying for the top position.
These teams include Sunrisers Hyderabad which has seven wins from 12 games, Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians both of which have seven victories each from 13 games so far while Royal Challengers Bangalore has 6 wins from 12.
However, a win for Kings XI Punjab in Saturday's last league game will still not help change their position in the points table, though they will like to create an upset.
Meanwhile, Kings XI Punjab coach Sanjay Bangar exuded optimism about the game, saying "we have had three very good games back-to-back specially starting with games against Kolkata Knight Riders and Hyderabad (close games which Kings XI Punjab lost). The game against Bangalore we were able to finish on the winning side."
"Irrespective of who does what against any opposition, what matters is playing well on a particular day and trying to execute as well as we can. That's what we are again going to go out and try that out tomorrow," he said e.
Asked if he thinks resting Virender Sehwag has helped the team, Bangar said, "unfortunately even Viru realises that he was not able to give starts that he expects of himself and we had some very good player like Manan Vohra sitting on the bench.
"It is just that he couldn't fire for us this season as much as he would have liked and as much as we would have liked. And it's just that somebody at the top of the order doesn't contribute then it doesn't help the team's cause in T20 cricket," he said.
Asked what he feels has been the team's biggest letdown this season, Bangar pointed out: "The leading run scorer of the tournament like David Warner, Ajinkya Rahane, Lendl Simmons are top order batsmen and have done really well for their respective teams.
"So, if your top three or four guys in the batting department aren't in the leading run scorer list, then obviously the team doesn't find itself in a very good position, that's where we were found lacking."