New Delhi: Post mortems have already started on the final day of the league engagements of the IPL 2017 on Sunday.
Moments after their humiliating defeat to Rising Pune Supergiant, the Kings XI Punjab Director of Cricket Operations Virender Sehwag slammed captain Glenn Maxwell for failing to lead the team responsibly.
"We always knew that when Maxwell fires, then he can win the match on his own. But he didn’t fire in most games. That is a big disappointment, especially since he’s experienced, having played for Australia’s Test and ODI teams. He didn’t take the responsibility as a captain and didn’t perform for Kings XI Punjab," the former India opener said at the post match press conference.
Earlier today, KXIP lost their do-or-die match by nine wickets in Pune. Put into bat by RPS skipper Steve Smith, the visitors could managed only 73 runs, bowling out inside 16 overs.
The paltry target was chased down with ease by RPS. Smith's team finished the league phase second, and qualified for the play-offs at the expense of KXIP.
Maxwell was out for a duck.
Sehwag was also livid that most of the overseas players' performances.
“I can say that none of the foreign players took responsibility and at least played 12 to 15 overs... Their role was at least one of the top four should bat for 12 to 15 overs, but none of the batsmen took the responsibility," he complaint.
Besides Maxwell, other three overseas players who featured in today's match also failed. Martin Guptill (0), Shaun Marsh (10) and Eoin Morgan (4) failed to live up the expectations.
“I think they were complaining that the wicket was a bit slow but when you play international cricket so much, you should get used to playing on difficult or good wickets. There are very rare occasions when you get a good wicket to bat on but whatever wicket you get, you have to play at least 20 overs for your side. But Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Guptill and Morgan [were all disappointing],” he added.
