Madurai Super Giants captain speaks about their third consecutive loss

Madurai Super Giants captain Shijit Chandran and Russel Radhakrishnan addressed the media after the team’s 10-run loss against LYCA Kovai Kings on Friday, September 2, at the India Cements Limited Ground, Sankarnagar, Tirunelveli. Here is the transcript of the interaction.

What happened to Michael Bevan?

Russell Radhakrishnan: He had his personal reasons and so he asked the management whether he can go back. And the management agreed to it since it was a genuine reason. He won’t be coming back and he has gone on his terms. He has also been paid what he needs to be paid.

Why was it kept under wraps?

Russell: We honestly didn’t feel we were keeping it under wraps. We were contemplating on who is going to take over because it had to be a smooth transition. I have been running the nets, so the management asked me why don’t I take over.

AR Srikkanth and me have experience of working in the Indian Premier League as well for the past nine years. I have also been working in the Big Bash League, so they felt okay we can take over. We don’t have to teach them (players) skills because they already have that. We only have to guide them. We informed Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) only yesterday about the same.

Was he (Bevan) happy?

Russell: He was happy and he even sent me an email regarding the same.

What was the turning point of the game?

Shijit: It is not about turning point, but I think we didn’t bowl well. We gave away 25-30 runs and that is where we left the match because 175 would have been a par score and that could have been chased as well. Fielding wise were good and that is why we came back into the match. Catching and run outs were also there, but yes we didn’t bowl to our plans. Maybe Raja’s last over can be called as the turning point because he bowled the previous overs very well. But that is what pressure is all about.

Three defeats in three matches. How is the franchise reacting?

Shijit: Franchise is very disappointed. But they still believe in us and keep encouraging us. They were saying if we win four out of four, we can still qualify. So it is our time to give something back to them — something back to the belief they have on us.

Did toss play a vital role?

Shijit: Yesterday also the wicket was very slow, but today was a proper wicket. Toss is not that vital I feel because we could have chased down 170-180 easily with the help of KB’s (Arun Karthik’s) extraordinary innings. If he was there till the end, he would have finished the game for us, but still those extra 20 runs were a burden for him as well.