Clarke finds fault with Shreyas’ dismissal

It was actually very hard for me to see that kind of dismissal of Shreyas Iyer. It’s just that a dismissal like that, especially of the captain in form, sends the wrong message in the dressing room, says Clarke

HYDERABAD: “That shot from Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was terrible, and it is not just about how you get out,” said former Australian captain Michael Clarke in a chat with JioHotstar after Kings lost to Rajasthan Royals in the IPL game on Saturday night.

“It was actually very hard for me to see that kind of dismissal of Shreyas Iyer. It’s just that a dismissal like that, especially of the captain in form, sends the wrong message in the dressing room,” Clarke said.

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“It might not leave Kings disheartened, but it certainly doesn’t make them feel upbeat about their own chances. That wicket had more impact than just one batter getting out,” he said.

“And this Rajasthan Royals team—with Yashasvi Jaiswal getting runs—is starting to look good. They’ve got a very interesting bowling combination as well. In Archer, one of the best new-ball bowlers; in Sandeep Sharma, one of the best deaths-over specialists; and players like Maheesh Theekshana in the middle overs are beginning to shine,” Clarke said.

“That first ball from Jofra Archer really set the tone for Rajasthan Royals. It was an absolute beauty. Then Shreyas followed it up with two unbelievable cover drives—up and over cover. But then, that fast bounce… it may have put him on the back foot,” he said.

On Yashasvi Jaiswal, Michael Clarke said he was brilliant and a few good shots gave him confidence, and the momentum took off from there.

“If you look at his wagon wheel, he hits all around the park. Yes, he likes the leg side, but those up-and-over shots past the keeper and his cover drives—he’s got all the shots,” he said.

For his part, Sanjay Manjrekar praised Jofra Archer’s impactful performance, saying. “Great bowling by Archer. He was literally sleeping in the dressing room—as we all saw! But maybe that rest brought the best out of him,” he said.