IPL 2023: On Thursday afternoon during the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League, the Punjab Kings lost by 24 runs against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Having been sent into bat by PBKS’s stand-in captain Sam Curran, RCB scored a respectable 174/4 in 20 overs, with an opening partnership of 137 runs between Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis. The Kings responded by scoring 150 before being bowled out.
After losing their top and middle order, the Kings were reduced to 43/4 in the powerplay, forcing bowling all-rounder Curran to bat at the top of the order. The other batsman, Prabhsimran Singh, produced the bulk of the runs in a partnership with Curran that seemed to steady the PBKS’ run-chase; however, the team’s stand-in captain lost his wicket away very cheaply in the 10th over.
Curran, an all-rounder bowler, lost a wicket due to some sloppy running, and he didn’t seem too pleased with himself as he headed back to the locker room. In addition, Virender Sehwag, a former India opener who has worked with Punjab Kings as both a player and a coach, criticized Curran harshly for his lackadaisical between-the-wickets running.
What did Virender Sehwag say about Sam Curran against RCB in IPL 2023?
“He’s an international player. But you can’t buy experience with 18 crores. It only comes when you play, when your hair turn white as you play under the hot sun,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.
“We think just because he was bought for 18 crore, he will win you matches. But he doesn’t have that experience yet. It was poor running, there was no need for that. You’re captain, you should’ve stayed, tried to take it to the final overs. But again, the lack of experience cost him,” Sehwag further said.
Without the injured Shikhar Dhawan, the Punjab Kings were headed by Curran. Curran said before the toss against RCB that Dhawan is getting closer to full fitness after missing the team’s past two games (the other being against Lucknow Super Giants).
