HYDERABAD, April 30: Kings XI Punjab opener KL Rahul defended his strategy of playing slow initially while chasing a mammoth 213 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, saying one between him and Chris Gayle was supposed to go all out upfront while the others try to take the game deep.
Chasing a huge total, Rahul (79 off 56; 4x4, 5x6) made a valiant effort with the bat but lacked support from the other end as Kings XI were restricted to 167 for eight.
�That�s been the team plan. One of me or Chris Gayle look to bat 15-16 overs as deep as possible so the others can play around,� said Rahul at the post-match press conference.
�That doesn�t mean that you don�t play your shots. I tried my shots a few times, it didn�t come off, few went for boundaries, few hit the fielders.�
Rahul though finished with a strike-rate of 141.07 but at one stage he had just made 39 off 36 deliveries when the required rate was well above 15 runs per over. The 27-year-old explained that he knew he could make up for it in the back end had he stayed at the crease in the middle overs.
�Not always as a batsman you will get off to an amazing start, you don�t get a 20-ball 50 each time. Sometimes when you get off to a start like that you have got to make it count but sometimes when you are not finding your touch you have to hang in there. I know that if I am set I can make up for it,� said Rahul. � PTI
