Guwahati, May 14: Punjab Kings will return to action against the Rajasthan Royals at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday, as the franchise looks to finish off the season on a good note. Despite not progressing further in the competition, the Kings’ squad believes the remaining two games are a good chance for the youngsters to express themselves with freedom and make a mark in their tournament.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Punjab Kings Assistant Coach Brad Haddin said that the team management is focusing on giving the maximum exposure to the inexperienced players in the upcoming matches.
“We want the guys to play with freedom. Tomorrow’s game is for them to go out there and express themselves. It is another opportunity for younger guys in the team to develop. We are confident that they will take this opportunity and put on a show with the skills we know they have. The players must see these games as opportunities to get that big score and to have that breakout performance in the IPL with which they can kick on for years to come,” Haddin said.
“It’s tough being eliminated. But in this tournament, there are always good opportunities to play against quality opposition. From our point of view, we want to make sure that the players forget what has happened before and focus on where they can improve,” the former Australia international was quoted as saying in a release.
Rajasthan Royals have been one of the top teams in the ongoing Indian Premier League season, maintaining a consistent winning run. With youngsters like Riyan Parag being spectacular with the bat, veterans such as Sanju Samson chipping in at the top order, and a bowling unit led by speedster Trent Boult, the Royals have posed a hard challenge for all opposition.“We know the quality that Rajasthan Royals have. They have got some really good bowlers up front with Boult, and they got two quality spinners in the middle, and they got a lot of power at the back. But it’s important that we get our process right. We focus on continuing to develop our players,” Haddin said.The 22-year-old Parag may further have an advantage in Guwahati on Wednesday, as he will be playing the match in his home state and will be familiar with the conditions. (PTI)
