IPL 2020: Sheldon Cottrell Says Kings XI Punjab Will Bounce Back Soon

Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell is not disappointed with his team’s performance in the IPL so far and said the way he returned after being a victim of Rahul Tewatia’s aggression, in the same way, his team will also make a great comeback soon.

Cottrell bowled well against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Thursday and took 1 wicket for 20 runs, but on Sunday, Rajasthan Royals’ Tewatia scored 30 runs in the 18th over with a great knock of his balls and gave his team the victory.

“My comeback was excellent, but I wished that my bowling effort could have helped my team to cross the line. I’m pleased with my performance,” West Indies fast bowler Cottrell said in the virtual press after Kings XI Punjab’s loss to Mumbai by 48 runs.

“I have been working hard on my death bowling, including my bowling partners. We are getting there, learning from our mistakes…I’m sure we will pull it off very soon. I will not say it is worrying. It is just a matter of time for us.”

Cottrell was not used in the Death Overs against Mumbai. He initially bowled 3 overs and then completed his quota of 4 overs in the 13th over. Kings XI have recorded just 1 win in 4 matches but Cottrell said his team will make a great comeback soon.

“I back my skipper 110 per cent and whatever decision he takes, he does it best for the team. It did not work today unfortunately but on another day, I’m sure it will work.

“We have a great bunch of guys. The coaching staff, Anil (Kumble) has been excellent. As our captain said in an earlier interview, we could have easily won three or four matches but unfortunately, we have won only one. We firmly believe that we will bounce back. I have no doubt about that.”

On asking about what are his views about teams mostly choosing to chase after winning the toss, he said, “Cricket is a game of great uncertainties. When the coin is tossed, it is 50-50 that you will win or lose it.

“Batting or bowling first does not matter. It is just for the team to go there and do its best and play good cricket. Best team on the day will come out victorious,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians leg-spinner Rahul Chahar praised Kieron Pollard (47 not out) and Hardik Pandya (30 not out), who scored 67 runs off 23 balls to take the team score to 191 runs for 4 wickets. In response, Kings XI was able to score 143 runs for eight wickets.

“We have a lot of faith in big-hitting skills of Pollard and Hardik. Pollard almost took us to victory in the last game against RCB. They are in good form and they can finish games in any situation,” Chahar said.

The 21-year-old said that the early wickets taken by Jasprit Bumrah and Krunal Pandya eased the pressure on other bowlers.

“When you get wickets at the start, the bowlers who come later don’t have much pressure. They can go for wicket-taking deliveries or go for variation, it makes things easier.

“There is no pressure that I have to stop runs. It was easier for me, so I could attack,” said Chahar.

On asking about Pollard’s coming ahead of Hardik, he replied, ” I think our score at the start was a little less and Pollard played a really good inning in the last match. There was confidence that Pollard will do it again if he was there.”