Ahmedabad, April 21 (NationPress) Matthew Hayden, the assistant coach of Gujarat Titans, acknowledged that the team significantly underperformed in both batting and bowling departments during their heavy loss to Mumbai Indians. The former Australian cricketer pointed out that their execution was lacking on a pitch that he believed was not conducive to high scores, stating that the 2022 champions have ‘got some work to do.’

Despite an impressive unbeaten century from Tilak Varma, which propelled the Mumbai Indians to a total of 199/5, Hayden expressed that the conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium favored bowlers and should have been better navigated by his team.

“Given our performance, which was quite mediocre with the ball, especially on a wicket that I felt was more suited for a score around 175, we certainly fell short. Historically, this black soil pitch on No. 5 has been known for a winning first-innings score of 218 for the last five batters, and today it wasn’t at that level,” Hayden remarked during the press conference.

He observed that the pitch showed visible cracks and had unpredictable bounce. He also praised Tilak Varma for his exceptional innings, stating, “We certainly have some work to do.”

Tilak’s aggressive batting was crucial as MI faced challenges in the middle overs, with the left-hander turning the tide through a remarkable display of power hitting. Hayden compared his innings to a rare achievement under tough conditions.

“It was a huge performance. I once spoke to a fisherman about longevity in his career, and he told me that when there are plenty of fish, everyone catches them. But he caught fish when no one else could,” Hayden said.

Hayden recognized that his team was aware of MI’s capabilities but failed to react effectively when it mattered, stating, “We all know Mumbai Indians are a formidable side. They are notorious starters and possess magic within the ocean that surrounds their ground in Mumbai.”

“As opponents, we understood this, yet we blinked. When you blink against a world-class player like Tilak Varma, even on a challenging wicket, that’s where we faltered. We couldn’t reverse the negative momentum caused by Tilak’s outstanding performance,” he added.

The former opener emphasized that Tilak’s innings was distinguished by its adaptability and game awareness rather than mere brute strength.

“His performance wasn’t just one-dimensional or cookie-cutter; it was a commanding display down the ground. He read the play well and capitalized on the wicket with power and precision,” Hayden explained.

He also highlighted tactical errors, including poor shot selection and failure to adapt to the boundary dimensions, stating, “Reflecting on our game, we had one side of the ground that was less accessible than the other, and we lost three wickets on the larger side of that boundary.”

Currently, with a 3-3 record, Hayden admitted that the team has been inconsistent and missed opportunities during manageable chases.

“Tilak had an outstanding day, putting Mumbai Indians in a position where they seemed to lack confidence, yet two younger players helped them beat us at home. Our record is now balanced at 50-50, reflecting our current form: three wins and three losses. Before this match, we had successfully chased runs in two out of three opportunities,” Hayden noted.

He stressed that a target of 200 was achievable, especially considering the talent at the top of the batting order, but the early collapse hindered their efforts. “It wasn’t an impossible target. I would trust our three world-class players to chase that down and give our more strategic players a chance to make contributions later in the innings,” he said.

In summary, Hayden acknowledged that it was a disappointing outing for his team, with little to learn except for one positive aspect.

“Today was just a dreadful day for us. There was nothing good about this performance, aside from Kagiso Rabada’s bowling,” he concluded.

With this defeat revealing both tactical and execution shortcomings, the Gujarat Titans will need to regroup quickly as the tournament enters a pivotal stage.