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SPORTS OCTOBER 01, 2021 | The Indian Eye 48

IPL 2021

Knockout stage: ups and downs as the t20

games enter a decisive stage of this season

As the action goes on in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we bring you the best of glimpses from the field and off it

our Bureau Gayle leaves early for
Dubai/Sharjah t20 wC

unrisers Hyderabad tar batsman Chris Gay-
(SRH) skipper Kane Wil- le left the Punjab Kings
Sliamson admitted the side Steam hotel and bio-bub-
didn’t put on a fighting total ble on Thursday owing to
against Chennai Super Kings ‘bubble fatigue’ accumulated
(CSK) on Thursday. CSK de- over months of playing fran-
feated SRH by six wickets de- chise and International crick-
spite a late wobble in the Indian et, said the IPL franchise.
Premier League (IPL) encoun- The 42-year-old won’t be
ter here at the Sharjah Cricket available now for selection for
Stadium. SRH were only able to the remainder of Punjab Kings’
score 134 in the allotted 20 overs games. Chris Gayle has been
and Williamson cited this as one part of bio-bubbles constantly
of the reasons for the loss. since cricket resumed post the
“Not quite enough runs. It pandemic, starting from the
wasn’t an easy surface and al- 2020 Indian Premier League.
though we didn’t get enough we He also was part of the West
showed a fighting spirit in the last Indies squads for their home
quarter with the ball. We need 10- games against Sri Lanka and
15 extra runs with the bat though Australia. That was immediately
and we need to make those Kane Williamson captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad plays a shot during followed by the 2021 Caribbean
small,” said Williamson during match 44 of indian Premier League between the Chennai Super Kings and Premier League, where Gayle
the post-match presentation. the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah on was once again in a bio-bubble
“After the powerplay we were thursday (ani) environment for the entirety of
40-something and although you the competition.
feel like you want more, it was a “Over the last few months, I
good start on that surface. You have been a part of the CWI bub-
want to score a few more runs ble, CPL bubble followed by the
though, but we saw some nice IPL bubble, and I wish to men-
contributions from the lower or- tally recharge and refresh my-
der. We need to improve. This self,” said Gayle in a statement.
team is at the top of the table,” “I want to refocus on help-
he added. ing the West Indies in the T20
CSK was the first team to get World Cup and would like
knocked out in IPL 2020 and on to take a break in Dubai. My
Thursday the Dhoni-led side be- thanks to the Punjab Kings for
came the first team to qualify for giving me the time off. My wish-
the playoffs after defeating SRH es and hopes are with the squad
by six wickets. always. All the very best for the
“If you make better deci- upcoming games,” he added.
sions with the bat, the final score K.S Bharat of royal Challengers Bangalore plays a shot during match 43 Punjab Kings said Gayle
could have been a little more. of iPL between the rajasthan royals and the royal Challengers Bangalore took this decision keeping in
CSK played really well. It looked at the Dubai international Stadium in Dubai on Wednesday (ani) mind the T20 World Cup which
challenging and variable. We are begins on October 17.
back to the drawing board,” said your name, you do look at the but we’ll look to grow and build The 42-year-old has opted
Williamson. growth of the team. This season some momentum,” he added. to prioritize his mental health
“Although every match is has been a bit disjointed given SRH have been knocked out and take a bit of a breather from
about the W or the L against that it was played in two halves, of the IPL 2021. Continued on next page... >>

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