“We consciously made the effort, we are not really going to pay too much attention to that and we are still going to find a way of putting up games of cricket together and finding ways of winning the match,” Zaheer said
Published Date – 28 May 2025, 09:39 AM
HYDERABAD: “When you start off the IPL season, your first goal is to think of the playoffs, how you are going to get there, what kind of plans you are going to have. We obviously made the conscious effort of the challenges which we are facing in the beginning of the season, which is losing a few of our main bowlers to injuries,” Lucknow Super Giants mentor and former India pacer Zaheer Khan said to media after the team lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the last league match in Lucknow on Tuesday night.
“We consciously made the effort, we are not really going to pay too much attention to that and we are still going to find a way of putting up games of cricket together and finding ways of winning the match,” Zaheer said.
“That is the process which everyone was aligned to and looking at that, we have had a decent season from that point of view but yes, we fell short and putting the game together was a challenge which was evident right throughout the season and those are the learnings which we have from the season,” Zaheer said.
“There are positives, a lot of positives, the stability was evident with regard to batting but with regard to bowling, we were trying to figure out the combinations, we were trying to figure out the options which can get us over the line and that is something that was the story right throughout the season. He has been good as a leader, that is something which was a bright positive for us throughout the season,” the great fast bowler of yesteryears said.
“The form with the bat definitely was something which was a learning experience for him as well to have this kind of a season but the ability, calibre is something which no one has any doubt about. So, that is the way we are looking at it, so we are happy that he finished on a very strong note and that is the calibre which he has, that is the impact he can have on the game. The season is done but the journey has just begun as Lucknow Super Giants has franchised (2:33) and that is what we are hopeful off,” Zaheer explained.
“When it was necessary, I did speak up about what my thoughts were but as the season is coming to an end, it is just about focusing on the cricketing aspects and the squad and the requirement of the squad, the learning from the season and strengthening the positives which we had this season is something which I would like to focus on,” he said.
“Rathi (leg-spinner) is a keen learner of the game, he thinks about the game, it is about finding that right balance I would say which he will in due course,” Zaheer said.