Madurai Super Giants captain speaks about solution for their batting woes

Madurai Super Giants skipper Shijith Chandran addressed the media after his team’s 52-run loss to Karaikudi Kaalai left them on the brink of elimination from the India Cements TN Premier League in Chennai on Tuesday.

So what went wrong for Giants?

We tried to play to a plan, but unfortunately it didn’t work out. We bowled and fielded well and it was the batting which let us down. The three wickets we lost in the Powerplay cost us the match.

So what lies next?

We are aiming to win at least one of the next three games. We want experienced players rather than youngsters in those. Also, stars like Suresh Kumar and Francis Rokins need to find their form back. Our immediate target is to win all three of the remaining games.

What can be a winning combination?

We will keep on trying to find the right one. It is very obvious that our plans went for a toss in this game. The correct combination will come and we need to be patient to find that elusive win.

Tell us about your former head coach Michael Bevan...

Bevan helped us by sharing his ideas and strategies. But then he is not that aware of local talent as, say, the new coaches. We want to play hard cricket, try strategies, and different combinations. Though the wicket got better and we were in the game, it was batting failure that cost us the match.

Is finishing during the death overs an issue?

Yes, as we are not that confident of closing out a game. We expected to win this and keep alive our chances of qualification but then it didn’t happen. The loss of crucial wickets lost us the game.

Any solution for the batting woes?

It is the first season and maybe in the near future the youngsters will get better. Even Rajkumar was superb and he took the game away from us. The score could have been 120 and it would have meant less pressure. Even after the 15th over, the big hits could have come, but then only for the lack of wickets.