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Lucknow Super Giants showed promise to gell into a competent outfit as they beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 12 runs for their second win in three matches in IPL 2022 this evening.

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Transcript
00:00Lucknow Supergiants are gelling well. There is absolutely no second thought about it.
00:04Yes, they have been playing as a team. Rahul has been captaining well.
00:07But I am afraid the same cannot be said about Sunrisers Hyderabad.
00:20Hello, good evening. Welcome to yet another show of Straight Back with Mr Cricket UAE.
00:26I have got the person himself with me, Mr Anish Sajan.
00:29With him, I am also joined by our cricket enthusiast, Sahil Sajan.
00:33We have just come out of a game where we saw Lucknow Supergiants gelling well
00:41to record a 12-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
00:46So first, we will talk about that match and then we will briefly look into what we have in store tomorrow.
00:51Anishbhai, your first impressions about the game?
00:55Thank you, Gautam. Hello, Sahil. And hello to all the gorgeous people of Gulf News.
01:00Mr Gautam said, Lucknow Supergiants are gelling well.
01:04There is absolutely no second thought about it.
01:06Yes, they have been playing as a team. Rahul has been captaining well.
01:09But I am afraid the same cannot be said about Sunrisers Hyderabad.
01:13They have been playing the old-school brand of cricket like what they played last year.
01:18And to me, they look to be the whipping boys for this year.
01:22Right. Yeah, I will come to Sahil.
01:26Sahil, first up, yes, I mean, you know, when Sunrisers Hyderabad, they managed to pull back things a bit.
01:35And then, you know, 180-185, we were looking at the pass score.
01:39But they managed to restrict Lucknow to 169.
01:42I thought that, okay, we have got a match on our hands.
01:45But then finally, you know, their chase kind of fell apart.
01:49What do you think, Sahil?
01:51I mean, as simple as that, no one really got going other than Rahul Tripathi, who played a marvellous innings.
01:58Yes, he was dropped earlier. But the shots which he played had such grace in them.
02:02But clearly, like, you know, what can I say, no one got going in the start.
02:06I think the opening batsman should not be opening.
02:09There are other players who can open the batting.
02:11I think Tripathi and Markram should open the batting, clearly.
02:15As Williamshin should come down at no. 3 or no. 4.
02:19Because he is an anchorman. He should not be coming in the powerplay straightaway.
02:22So, clearly, they are making mistakes.
02:25And like I mentioned yesterday, where they left off, they started the same way.
02:30Absolutely. I mean, this is a little frustrating.
02:33I will come back to Anizbhai on that.
02:35I mean, Anizbhai, this Sunrisers Hyderabad, they used to be, ever since they came on board in, you know, I think 2013.
02:45They have been one of the most consistent teams.
02:48Firstly, last year, you know, they mismanaged this David Warner issue.
02:54Then they, you know, like, I think somewhere their personal preferences took precedence.
03:00Even after Warner became man of the tournament in the T20 World Cup, they made no effort to retain him.
03:06Do you think that was a big, big mistake which they did, Anizbhai?
03:10You are absolutely spot on, Gautam.
03:13When we did the analysis after the auction, we saw on paper this squad.
03:17And today, bearing Nicholas Puran, tell me one player who looks to be the dangerous player in the team, who can go bang, bang and finish.
03:25You can't expect the guys like Sheppard, who is playing the IPL for the first time, to do a miracle of scoring 16-18-20 runs.
03:32And mind you, Nicholas Puran is not one of those guys who has done well in the IPL.
03:36So, they let off Rashid, they let off Warner.
03:39And then, we all know who was selecting the players in the auction.
03:42So, sometimes, without being very hard on the person who selected the team, you need to have a street smart person.
03:48And I am afraid Tom Moody has lost it. He is still playing the old school.
03:51And I will repeat, Williamson, as much as we like him as a player, he is a likeable person.
03:56One of the nicest bloke on cricket.
03:58But T20 has evolved a lot from what it was in 2016.
04:02It's no more the same.
04:03It's today, if you see the new teams are coming with plans, strategy.
04:07And if you watch every other team going bang-bang in the first 6 overs, where they have been playing the tuk-tuk type of cricket.
04:14Exactly. This is the point which Zaheer made in a straightforward manner.
04:20I mean, what is the logic behind having him to open?
04:23I mean, he is not a person who can shift gears just like that.
04:26He needs time. And then finally, he can anchor the tinnings.
04:30Today, he tried. He got that scope right once.
04:34Second one, there was a glove to it.
04:36I mean, on both innings that he has dismissed, there is a touch of unfortunate touch about it.
04:42But that's how the game goes.
04:44What is the thinking behind his opening the innings?
04:49I don't know what is the thinking, who is asking him to open.
04:52Of course, he is the captain. He can call the shots.
04:54But whatever, whosoever is taking the decision.
04:57Because like Sahil mentioned, you are wasting a guy like Tripathi and Makram.
05:01As much as Makram was sloppy today in the second half.
05:04But he is a guy who likes the ball to come on to the bat.
05:07Similarly, Tripathi.
05:08And Nicholas Puran's ideal position, if I have to be very honest, is not as a finisher.
05:13He should be at number 3.
05:14The guys like the Sheppard and everything can come as a finisher.
05:17And Williamson can anchor the innings.
05:20Because when you lose your captain early on, you know there is panic in the dressing room.
05:23It's like using your Virat Kohli.
05:25See, Williamson, Virat Kohli, Smith who is not there in this IPL, they play the same brand of cricket.
05:32So, they generally take the singles and they eat the odd boundary.
05:35But when they are back in the hut, there is nobody to consolidate it.
05:38Today also, you see, they needed probably 15-5 overs and 6 wickets in hands.
05:42Generally, you will back any time a team to chase it.
05:44But they lost their way because there was nobody to anchor.
05:47And probably, brain freeze again.
05:50Absolutely. Like you said, in the daily game, if you keep on losing wickets at this kind of regular intervals,
05:57you are neither here nor there.
05:59So much of due. I mean, everything is in your place.
06:01You have wickets in hand. 100 is not about, you know, style.
06:05The opposition has to only make mistake to lose.
06:09And that is what, I am sorry, Sunrisers Hyderabad are doing it.
06:14And if they continue the same way, even if they win 2-3 games, I would be very surprised.
06:18Right. I will come back to Sahil.
06:21I mean, to give credit where it's due.
06:24You know, Lucknow Supergiants, when Washington Sundar struck early in the power play,
06:30I thought that it was a kind of reminder about their first game.
06:34But then, while Rahul was being Rahul, I am getting increasingly, you know,
06:40Huda is going to be the player to be in this IPL, it seems.
06:45The way he is batting at 5-6, his ability to accelerate and also to contribute with the ball.
06:51Your thoughts, Sahil, about Huda?
06:55You know, Deepak Huda has been in the loop for quite a while now.
06:59From U19 World Cup, long time ago. Now, he has been playing regularly IPL.
07:04But now, he is a man in form. Recently, he made his debut for Indian cricket.
07:08And now, he is playing well in the IPL. So, I am really happy for this guy.
07:12We have been seeing him for a while. You know, he has been an inconsistent player.
07:16And if you have seen back in the IPL days. Now, he is playing well every game.
07:21He is stepping up for his franchise. He is leading from the front.
07:24He is not that fringe player in the squad. Now, he is leading from the front.
07:27So, I am really happy for him. Really.
07:30Right. Right. I will throw this question to Anizbhai now.
07:36Abish Khan, two seasons back, he was a bit of a chubby-faced guy who made his debut
07:42with the Delhi squad as a fringe bowler. You know, definitely starting as a kind of
07:49stepney to KG and Anrich Nockey. You know, the way he has emerged, the way he thought out,
07:56he planned the dismissal when he saw Williamson moving.
08:01You know, what do you think about Abish? I mean, his evolution had been remarkable, isn't it?
08:09Fair point, Mr. Gautam. Like you mentioned, the way he thought out the dismissal of Williamson,
08:15where he made sure he bowled him more outside the off-stump so that Williamson had to move more,
08:19slowed down the pace because we all know Abish Khan has got a lot of pace.
08:22Because when you want to play that scoop shot, you all remember the Mizbahul shot,
08:27where he did not get pace. And again, he slowed down the pace and Williamson was caught on that shot,
08:33was early on to the shot and scooped up. But having said that, not only he bowled that ball,
08:38he changed the game. He got a wicket of Puran off a full-toss. But he got two big wickets.
08:43The dangerous Nicholas Puran. And Samad also can hit the big ball.
08:47And that is where the match just went out of their hand. Since you are talking about Abish,
08:52I will not try to divert now. But you have to give credit to this young boy.
08:56And his prize of 10 crores is worth it.
08:58Right. Well, just moving on, once again, tomorrow we have got a good game on our hands.
09:06I think Rajasthan Royals, it's been a remarkable change from last season.
09:11They are looking the most complete team as of now after this 2 out of 2.
09:16And they are going to play RCB, who hasn't done too badly, though they have lost a game.
09:20So, what's your take? I mean, whom would you put all your money on? The usual question in this way.
09:25Okay. I will definitely answer this. I want to bring it to the notice of all our listeners.
09:31There are twice instances, I am sure you followed the game, when the ball went in the air.
09:35And both the times you saw Sheppard not crossing. First, when Puran got out,
09:39the ball went to the boundary. There is no crossing over.
09:42Then, again, in Bhuvneshwar Kumar's scooping, they are not crossing over.
09:46I mean, you are the guy who is supposed to hit six. Do you expect the guy who comes in the end to hit the boundary?
09:51I mean, that has to be a little common sense. I don't know. It's ridiculous.
09:57Do you expect the fast bowler to hit the six of the last ball?
10:01It's very clear when the ball goes in the air. There is a chance you might drop a catch.
10:05You might get two runs. But there is no effort made. So, that was the point I wanted to bring.
10:09I am sure when you guys go back and rewind the match, you will come to know what I am trying to say.
10:13Coming now to tomorrow's match, definitely, RR has made a very good start.
10:17Rajasthan Royals, they look on the back of Josh Butler's fantastic hundred against Mumbai Indians.
10:23And backed by Sanju Samson. And most importantly, they have got two spinners
10:28who are calling the shots and turning the game. Yujendra Chawal as well as R Ashwin.
10:34So, they looked aside. Very good. Plus, they have Trent Boult as well as Prashith Krishna.
10:39They are the team to bid. And mind you, RCB, even though they have won one game, it was a sneakish victory against KKR.
10:46They just went because Dinesh Karthik's run-out was missed. So, I would definitely back RR to beat RCB.
10:53Right. And when do you expect to see Glenn Maxwell after finishing his honeymoon?
11:00You know what, I don't have this information. I probably have to check on it with one of my friends in their team.
11:07As to when he is back. But at least for a week, he is not here.
11:10Right. I will come to Sahil. Sahil, your take, RR or RCB?
11:17Both teams are really fun to watch. I am going to go with RCB. Just because I want RR to lose one game now.
11:26He is the birthday boy. So, he can say tomorrow is his birthday.
11:30Oh, wonderful. Okay. I think I will hold on to the wish. I mean, if I go by the Indian standard time, I could have wished too.
11:39But I will keep that for tomorrow and I will message you. But meanwhile, yes, I will also like to put my money on Rajasthan Royals.
11:46Really. Unless they don't have a bad game after two wins. So, that's about it.
11:52We are looking forward to another interesting game tomorrow and then catch up in the evening.
11:56Thank you, Anisbhai. Thank you, Sahil for joining me on this discussion. Till then, see you again tomorrow.

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