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


Paul Radley
  • English
  • Arabic

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.”

THE SIXTH SENSE

Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Rating: 5/5

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The biog

DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPHONE%2015%20PRO%20MAX
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LUKA CHUPPI

Director: Laxman Utekar

Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema

Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon​​​​​​​, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana

Rating: 3/5

The specs: 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

Price, base / as tested: Dh101,140 / Dh113,800


Engine: Turbocharged 1.5-litre four-cylinder


Power: 148hp @ 5,500rpm


Torque: 250Nm @ 2,000rpm


Transmission: Eight-speed CVT


Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km

The Bio

Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village

What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft

Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans

Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface

THE SPECS

Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm

Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km

Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)

On sale: now

Scoreline

Syria 1-1 Australia

Syria Al Somah 85'

Australia Kruse 40'

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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