After failing to get Punjab over the line against Hyderabad on April 17, Manan Vohra wants to set the record straight when the two teams clash tonight
Manan Vohra
Kings XI Punjab batsman Manan Vohra. Pic/AFP
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Mohali: The heart-breaking loss is still rankling King's XI Punjab opener Manan Vohra and he desperately wants to set the record straight when he comes up against defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here today.
When the two teams clashed in Hyderabad on April 17, Vohra had single-handedly almost pulled off a heist with a superlative knock.
The dashing batsman, however, not only missed a personal glory of an IPL century by just five runs, but also failed to take his team to victory in a close finish.
As KXIP host their first home match, having played three games at "adopted" home in Indore, Vohra gets another chance to redeem the near-miss. Vohra is determined to see his team home and give them a much-needed win to boost their chances of making it to the play-offs.
Manan has the backing of the KXIP's operations head Virender Sehwag. The former India opener wants Vohra to play his natural game and express himself in the middle in his own way.
"Manan can bat only like Manan Vohra and not like Sehwag or Glenn Maxwell. I tell the youngsters that they should know their strengths and weaknesses.
"When he knows that, it becomes easier for the player to play to his strengths," Sehwag said, about how youngsters like Vohra should go about.
KXIP's fate depends on how well their youngsters perform in the last seven league matches, four of which will be at home. Vohra has been with the KXIP for four years now and has from time to time played scintillating knocks at the top of the order. But what he has lacked is consistency. This is the right time for him to focus on being more consistent, which will not only help his team, but also his career.