IPL 2023: Harbhajan Singh Criticizes Aiden Markram for His Dismissal against KKR

Harbhajan Singh said that Aiden Markram‘s untimely dismissal was one of the reasons for the SunRisers Hyderabad‘s (SRH) loss in their IPL 2023 clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, KKR set SRH a 172-run target after opting to bat first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday, May 4. It seemed an easy win for SRH before losing the well-set Heinrich Klaasen and Markram and eventually lost the match by five runs as well.

During a post-match discussion on Star Sports, Harbhajan Singh shared his thoughts on the SunRisers Hyderabad losing a game they should have won. He also said that Markram should have played cautiously at that stage instead of playing a reckless shot. He shared:

“The odd shot (Aiden) Markram played, it was a wrong shot. He shouldn’t have hit at that stage. He knew that the lower-order batters are not that good. So he needed to stay there. The game changed there only. If you had taken a single off the last ball, the strike would have been with you. Even if you hadn’t got a single, 18 balls were left, and you have the ability. His wicket was important.”

However, SRH needed 27 runs off 20 deliveries with five wickets in hand. Aiden Markram hit a slower bouncer from Vaibhav Arora straight down the long-off fielder who did no mistake and that changed the game’s fate too.

“They made the mistake of delaying it too much” – Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh also added that the SunRisers Hyderabad let the game go too deep. He also stated that Abdul Samad lost his wicket to a ball that should have been hit for a six as well.

However, the SunRisers Hyderabad needed nine runs off the final over bowled by Varun Chakaravarthy. He had Samad caught at deep midwicket off the third ball and conceded only three runs in the over to seal the deal for KKR.

“After that, Samad was playing but Samad has not yet shown the ability, which other Indian batters have shown, to hit boundaries at will. So I feel they made the mistake of delaying it too much although only nine runs were required off the last over. Samad hit the ball, which should have gone for a six, straight into the hands. It was a very short ball and he probably hit it too early because of which it didn’t hit the middle of the bat. You can understand the pressure but that is why you are picked, to win your team the game in crunch moments,” he concluded.