News
Fri 24 Apr 2015, 12:00 am
Summary
Team mentor VVS Laxman calls for contributions from all batsmen instead of dependence on top two
After signing off Visakhapatnam on a high with a comprehensive 16-run victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad now look to maintain their winning momentum when they face a low-on-confidence Mumbai Indians on Saturday. Instead of the win what impressed Sunrisers mentor VVS Laxman was the fact that the team executed their plans to perfection. “What was pleasing more than the victory was that we executed most of our bowling and batting plans,” Laxman said. “Whenever you execute the plans, invariably the result goes your way. We want to emphasise on executing plans. If the players play their role to perfection, the results will be taken care of. It was good to finish Vizag on a high after two disappointing losses but we were very pleased with the way the boys played and fought till the end. “Victory always gives you that confidence and the morale is high after the victory. We just want to follow it up with some good performances before we go back to Hyderabad. We would look to continue that run and put up some good performances.” Up next, the Sunrisers Hyderabad face the Mumbai Indians who are coming off a 37-run loss against the Delhi Daredevils. With the Mumbai Indians batsmen failing to fire, Laxman hinted at the possibility of Trent Boult and Dale Steyn featuring together in the playing eleven. “It is a possibility,” he said. “But, we have to see how the pitch is. At the moment it looks damp, so we haven’t taken any decision on the playing eleven. We will take the final call tomorrow. “Having said that, Mumbai Indians haven’t played to their potential right now but they have got a dangerous batting line-up with match-winners. It is important to focus on what we are looking from this match and what we have to do right for us to have the right result on our side. We want to focus on our strengths and go with that.” One of their major strengths has been the form of Shikhar Dhawan and captain David Warner. When asked if their side was too reliant on the opening pair, Laxman said all the batsmen had contributed well till now and the side had a lot of batting depth. “David Warner has done well and so has Shikhar Dhawan. I also feel Ravi Bopara has done well in a few matches. Both close games, especially the game against Delhi Daredevils, it was because of Karn Sharma and Ashish Reddy that we came close to winning the game. “I think the performances have been delivered by the opening batsmen, but we have got good depth in our batting till No.7 and 8. We are expecting a lot from these batsmen. All of them are in good nick and that is important for us. We are looking for contributions not only from a couple of players but atleast five or six players when they go out to bat.”