IPL 2021: VVS Laxman focuses on positives despite another Sunrisers Hyderabad capitulation

VVS Laxman says Sunrisers Hyderabad are not panicking despite their poor start to the IPL season, as well as an injury to Thangarasu Natarajan.

The 2016 champions slumped to a third successive defeat on Saturday night, losing out by 13 runs to the holders Mumbai Indians.

They had been well placed to chase the 151 needed to win, having been 67 for no loss, and then 90-2 in the 12th over.

However, they capitulated in miserable fashion for the third time in a row while trying to chase on the slow track in Chennai.

David Warner, the captain, lambasted his side for what he labelled “just poor batting,” but Laxman, the team mentor, was more circumspect.

“This is just the start of the tournament,” Laxman said.

“Yes, we would have loved to have started on a winning note and had momentum on our side.

“But having said that, I think it’s very important to introspect in a constructive manner. There is no point brooding over the result.

“Everyone is disappointed because once they are on the park they want to score runs, pick up wickets and win the match for the team.

“It is about analysing the good things as well as the shortcomings, and not repeating the shortcomings in the following matches.

“It is also important to motivate the boys by addressing the positive aspects.”

To compound the problems, Natarajan was conspicuous by his absence. The left-arm seamer was one of the finds of the tournament as Hyderabad reached the playoffs in the UAE last year, and enjoyed a fairytale rise to the India team as a result.

He has sustained a knee injury, though, with Laxman saying he is “sure the medical staff will make the right decision for him and for the franchise”.

The manner of the defeat was identical to the previous two matches for Hyderabad, with a middle-order collapse following a fast start to the run-chase.

“As the ball gets older in the second half of the innings, it is getting tougher to play your natural game, to play the big shots, because the ball is stopping on the wicket,” Laxman said.

“It is two paced, and also the spinners are extracting turn, along with bounce.

“If you saw the way Jonny Bairstow and David Warner capitalised on the power play, that will be very important going forward, especially when you are playing on slow tracks like we are seeing in Chennai.

“If you use the new ball and the power play restrictions, it means the batsmen who come later will be under less pressure.

“It is also very important one set batsman plays through the innings, and plays deep into the innings. It is difficult for a newcomer to get used to the surface straight away, especially when the asking rate is climbing up.”