The wicket was a bit slow but I should have finished the match: Pandya

Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya said there was no problem with the wicket and he should have taken his team to victory after suffering a close five-run defeat against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League here on Tuesday. Chasing Delhi’s target of 131, Titans’ team came out to bat at number three, thanks to an unbeaten half-century by Pandya (59 not out in 53 balls, seven fours) and his fifth wicket partnership of 62 runs with Abhinav Manohar (26). Despite this, could only score 125 runs for six wickets. Rahul Tewatia scored 20 runs in seven balls with three sixes but could not win his team.

For Delhi, Ishant Sharma (2/23) and Khaleel Ahmed (2/24) took two wickets each, while Kuldeep Yadav took one wicket for just 15 runs in four overs. Earlier, after the career-best bowling of Mohammed Shami (four wickets for 11 runs), Delhi Capitals recovered from a very poor start from the first half-century of Aman Hakim Khan (51 runs in 44 balls, three sixes, three fours) for eight wickets. Scored a respectable score of 130 runs. Pandya said after the match, “Obviously we would have accepted a score of 129 (130) any day. In the end, Rahul got us back.

I tried my best but could not take advantage. It depended on me. We were expecting some big overs to come in the middle but at that point we could not find the rhythm. It was also new for Abhinav. “He said,” It depends on how I could not finish the game. Full credit goes to their bowlers as well. It is my responsibility that I could not finish the match. I should have done it. “Regarding the wicket, he said,” The wicket was very good. I think it was related to the pressure of the wickets. I don’t think the wicket played much role. It was a bit slow, we are not used to it here but he bowled really well.

We lost some early wickets where we should have taken some time. We could not find the rhythm in the middle. Rahul got us back, otherwise he was well ahead in the match. This put us under pressure.” Pandya said that he felt sorry for Shami. He said, “I feel sorry for him (for Shami). If you bowl like that and restrict the team to 129 then I think the batsmen let us down.