Bailey confident of turning things around

Starting the tournament as one of the favourites, things have not gone according to plan for Kings XI Punjab this season. Having managed just two wins from nine outings, they are rooted at the bottom of the table with their play-offs hopes hanging by a slim thread.

Skipper George Bailey, addressing the media here at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday on the eve of their clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore, pinpointed the batting inconsistency as the main reason for their failure so far.

“Bowling has been okay this year. The batting has been the biggest letdown. Last year, our bowling was the weakest link but this year they have really stepped it up. Anureet (Singh) and Sandeep (Sharma) have been outstanding while Axar (Patel) has enjoyed a good tournament as well. The local bowlers have really stepped up and delivered. A lot of times, the totals we’ve managed has been under par.

“We are certainly not playing well as we would like to be playing. Our hopes and ambitions are as similar to every team that is competing in the IPL. We’ve been inconsistent which is extremely disappointing but there’s enough cricket for us to effect a turnaround. We believe we can.”

The biggest letdown for Kings XI Punjab has been the disastrous form of Glenn Maxwell. The Aussie World Cup winner, who hammered 552 runs last season, has managed a mere 74 runs from six outings. Bailey, however, felt it’s harsh to blame his Aussie mate for the team’s failure.

“There is a lot of scrutiny around him -- when he clicks, it's great and when he doesn't it is disappointing. Yeah, he’s not done as well as he did last season. But that’s the way he plays his cricket. I've been talking to him. I am pretty sure he will come good in the coming games. He’s come from the World Cup and it has taken a while for him to adapt.

“The conditions are different in India and Australia. He's played enough cricket here and I think it is the outside world that puts more pressure on him. I am sure he will do far better in the coming games.”