There is a possibility that Sunrisers Hyderabad can seal a playoff spot even if they suffer a defeat in their last league match of VIVO IPL 2017 against Gujarat Lions here in Kanpur. Playing the first of the two games on Saturday, SRH can still make it if Rising Pune Supergiant beat Kings XI Punjab on Sunday. But that is not how champion teams play and for defending champions SRH, they don’t want anyone else to control their destiny. Coach Tom Moody made is clear that SRH want to get full points from the match.

“We’ve come here to win the game and the mindset is to win the game and not focus on things that are not in control. Other results are not in our control but what is in our control is to play our best cricket here (at Green Park).

“It will be challenging for both the teams. We have prepared accordingly and we won’t have a long nets sessions. It is necessary to have the right amount of hydration so that we don’t face any issues during the game.”
Had SRH not suffered two losses in their last three games, they’d have qualified by now. Moody disagreed that the team had asubtle phase in the middle after a dominating run. “I think ‘phase’ is a word that is used in the media and you can read into it the way you like. At the end of the day, it is a very tough tournament with very good players. It is very rare that you see a side dominate from start to finish. Yes, we dropped a few games but when it gets to the end of the tournament, you need to be playing your best cricket and we feel confident after a resounding win over Mumbai Indians in the last game.”

Asked about SRH’s two promising medium pacers Siddarth Kaul and Mohammed Siraj, the coach agreed that SRH have got more cushion with the two handling the pressure well. “It is great that Siddarth has taken his opportunities. He has been with us for a couple of years. We have worked hard with him and he has also worked hard on his bowling. Half the battle is about getting an opportunity. The competition to find yourself in the XI is always tough. Siddarth has done the hard work and he is getting the reward and now we are getting the reward of his success.

“Siraj is an exciting talent and there is a lot to like about him. It is great that he is having this kind of exposure early on his career.” On the other hand, Gujarat Lions’ assistant coach Mohammad Kaif rued the absence of all-rounder Dwayne Bravo. Without Bravo, the bowling line-up is thin on experience and it has directly affected them in matches where they have batted first. In the two seasons, GL have won just one game batting first.

“We have had our moments. Our batting department has been fine. We have an experienced batting line-up and an inexperienced bowling line-up. We have lots of young bowlers and it takes a while to get going. We have also changed combinations; when you don’t win you try different things. The bottom line has been that we missed Bravo big time as when it comes to death bowling, he is a champion bowler.”

The former India player added that the boys in the team wanted to end the season on a winning note and also make an impression for next season’s mega auction. “I have been interacting with the boys and they are all keen to win the last game. Yes, we have not qualified this year but a good performance from the boys will hold them in good stead for the auctions next year. We will not take the game lightly.”