Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir on Monday lauded pacer Umesh Yadav for setting up the 35-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad by claiming two crucial wickets in the opening over of the innings.
Having climbed to the third position in the league table following the win, an upbeat Gambhir also praised his batsmen for their professional effort in notching up 167/7 after being put into bat at the Eden Gardens here. Sunrisers never quite recovered from the early jolts, and were restricted to 132/9.
"It was a very professional effort, after Sunrisers put us in. 165 on this wicket was very good. Still we wanted someone to bat till the 15th over to get 180. Very satisfied with the boys hitting the ball for us," Gambhir said.
"Have got someone like (Andre) Russell, and if he'd fired we could have gotten 190."
Gambhir said only Hodge (2/17) got some purchase from the wicket.
"It was a very flat wicket, except for Hoggy. And then Umesh getting the first two wickets in the first over, he set the game up."
Yadav got rid of rival skipper David Warner in the third delivery and then castled Naman Ojha (0) with his last ball. After over one, the Sunrisers were 6/2.
Asked about the team management opting for Johan Botha instead of Pat Cummins, Gambhir said:
"We thought that Tendo (Ryan ten Doeschate) could give us a couple of overs and we wanted to lengthen the batting and play freely. It's a psychological boost for us if we knew we batted deep. And with Johan and his experience in the death as well.
"Piyush bowled well as well. Been very unlucky with the weather and with a proper 40 over game, we have the personnel to play really well".
