Lehmann wary of RCB batting

Kings XI Punjab coach Darren Lehmann was wary of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s might with the bat but the Australian was a lot more concerned about his team’s showing this season.

Kings XI have disappointed this season as they currently languish at seventh with ten points from 13 games but a win each in the remaining three games will push them up the order.

“We’re not trying to fight it too much. They’ve got some dangerous players so we have to bowl really well and hold our chances in the field more than anything else,” Lehmann said when RCB’s record at home was brought to notice.

“This is a must-win, as every game has been. We’ve just got to perform better than we have in the last couple of games. The other night (against Sunrisers Hyderabad) we were 20 per cent short of where we wanted to be, and missed some chances in the field. We can’t worry about anything other than getting better. The challenge for us is to come up against a side that plays really well at home,” remarked the former middle-order batsman.

Much to Lehmann’s delight Adam Gilchrist has returned to form. The Australian left-hander dropped himself from the squad following a string of poor performances but he seems to have found his footing once again. “The older players have struggled a little bit this year but they add value off the field in terms of helping out the younger guys. Sachin (Tendulkar), Gilly and (Ricky) Ponting – their value add is immense to a franchise not just because of the playing but what they bring in terms of fans and the enjoyment factor,” noted Lehmann when asked if the older players were finding it hard to acclimatise to the abridged version.

“Yes they’d like to make more runs and take more wickets -- and franchises need them to do that as well. Adam’s no different -- we need him to make more runs. He did well in the last couple of games but before that he hadn’t batted well enough. He knows that. They’re superstars for a reason.”