'Everything started where I played that shot' - Krunal accepts blame for LSG's 32 for 8 collapse

Krunal Pandya accepted "full responsibility" for Lucknow Super Giants' failure to chase down Mumbai's 182 for 8 in the IPL 2023 Eliminator in Chennai, which ended their campaign in the competition.

It was the second successive season - the only two they have been part of since becoming one of two new teams, Gujarat Titans the other, in 2022 - where LSG have been knocked out in the Eliminator, having gone down to Royal Challengers Bangalore last year.

"We were in a really good position," Krunal, who took over the captaincy after an injury ruled KL Rahul out, said in the post-match presentation ceremony. "Everything started where I played that shot that was not on and I completely take full responsibility."

Chasing 183, LSG lost openers Prerak Mankad and Kyle Mayers inside four overs but were in the chase courtesy a third-wicket partnership between Krunal and Marcus Stoinis. The pair had added 45 when the first strategic time out was called with LSG at 68 for 2. But on the second ball after resumption, Krunal danced down the track to a tossed-up ball from Piyush Chawla and holed out at long-on. From 69 for 2, LSG lost eight wickets for just 32 to be bowled out for 101.

"At that situation, we should have played better cricket," Krunal said. "The shot I played was not on and I completely take all the blame for where we ended up."

Akash Madhwal was the wrecker-in-chief, picking up five wickets for just five runs and hastening LSG's slide. Three run-outs - all, incidentally, involving Deepak Hooda - didn't help either.

"The wicket was not bad, the ball was coming nicely on the bat," Krunal said. "It remained the same in the second innings as well. We just had to bat better and take responsibility to play good cricket, but we didn't do that after the break."

One of the topics of debate was LSG preferring Mayers over Quinton de Kock. Mayers was used as the Impact Player while de Kock was not even part of the five substitutes named.

Krunal said that it was a tough call, but Mayers' knock in Chennai against Chennai Super Kings earlier in the season sealed the deal in his favour.

"It's always a tough decision. Quinton de Kock is a quality player, he is a world-class batter," he said. "Kyle had a better record over here and it was a tough decision but we felt we can go with Kyle at that time."

Much before all that, LSG opened their bowling with Krunal himself and K Gowtham, and Krunal explained that he wanted to deny the Mumbai top-order batters the extra pace upfront. However, the move didn't really work as Mumbai raced to 29 for no loss in the first three overs - two of those bowled by Krunal - and 62 for 2 in the powerplay.

"Their batters bat really well to the fast bowler," he said. "So I thought we can try something different and start with the spinners and then take it from there."