PUNE: Everything that could go wrong went wrong for
Saurashtra
. “It was the worst game of the season for us,“ said coach
Sitanshu Kotak
. “In 10 matches put together, I can't remember dropping so many catches.And they are our best (slip) fielders,“ he said, referring to the two sitters put down by Arpit Vasavada and
Cheteshwar Pujara.
“Our bowling was better in the quarterfinal and semifinal. We still created chances but you can't afford to be bowled out for 100-odd runs, that too on the third day.“
It was Saurashtra's second defeat in as many Ranji finals, and to the same opponent, Mumbai. Kotak was philosophical about the loss.
“When it goes against you, everything goes against you,“ said the former opening batsman.
“I think we tried a little too much (while bowling on the third day), but from outside (as a coach) you are handicapped.“ Saurashtra clearly missed an attacking batsman like Shreyas Iyer or Siddhesh Lad, but Kotak refused to believe his team got bogged down.
“Only two innings have been very fluent. Iyer played a lot of strokes and Lad played after nine down,“ he said.
Start a Conversation
Post comment