IPL 2016: Murali Vijay urges Kings XI teammates to put up their best in remaining matches

Kings XI Punjab skipper, Murali Vijay said that the team would try to put up their best show in the remaining two games as they now play for pride. Punjab were knocked out of the Indian Premier League after their seven-wicket defeat to the table-toppers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, on Saturday in Mohali.

“We basically want to put up a show as individuals and as a team. For pride’s sake we want to put up a good show against RCB and one more game in the end against Pune,” Vijay told during a press conference last night.

This year, Punjab’s story has been no different to their previous years. The only memorable season they have had so far is the 2014 IPL where Kings XI were at the peak of their performance, qualifying for their first-ever IPl final, which they eventually lost to Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets.

However, this season, Kings XI have won just four out of their 12 games and are officially out of the tournament. They have had a couple of close games this year, but were not able to cross the line. With Hashim Amla’s superb 56-ball 96 knock, they would have expected a different result last night against Hyderabad.

Talking about Amla’s knock going in vain, the Skipper said it was very disappointing.

“Obviously, to come up in the wrong side in the end is feeling little sad for him, and hopefully we can take that in our chin and play the remaining games with lot more pride,” he added.

We have a great team, it just did not click for us this year: Vijay

With the IPL title remaining a distant dream for Punjab yet again this season, Vijay said they should have won more games in the initial stages to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

“See, there are a lot of variables to it, we should have started well in the tournament to have a chance in the end because at the end almost all the teams are set with their eleven and they are going to come hard at us,” Vijay said.

Talking about what they could have done differently as a team this season to break their IPL jinx, he said they have a strong side, but it just did not click.

“I personally think we have a good set up, we have a good bunch of boys who can win matches at their own right. It did not click for us this season. Hopefully, we can take positives from this season and come back and play better cricket next season.”