Hyderabad: Sunrisers Hyderabad mentor V.V.S. Laxman has complemented Mohammad Nabi and Shikhar Dhawan for executing the side's plans perfectly to notch up a vital win against table-leaders Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League match here on Monday.
"We know that Mumbai Indians is a very good side. They are the in form side. So, we had a certain game plan and strategy and even our combination was changed based on the kind of players they got in their line-up," said Laxman.
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"It was fantastic to see Nabi, the way he started off. The first two, three overs set the tone for the match. Important thing was we didn't allow that momentum to shift. We did not allow Mumbai Indian batsmen to come back into the game...
"Overall, I think we executed our plans to perfection," Laxman said.
Nabi gave away just 13 runs off his four overs and picked up the wicket of opener Lendl Simmons, while man-of-the-match Dhawan smashed an unbeaten 62 off 46 balls as Hyderabad won the match by seven wickets with 10 balls to spare. Hyderabad improved their chances of making it to the play-offs and are now placed fourth with 15 points.
Hyderabad made major changes in the team composition by dropping the in-form Kane Williamson and including Nabi.
"It was more about left-handers in Mumbai Indians line up. Some of them in good form, starting with Parthiv (Patel) and also Nitish Rana at number three...
"But, when you have only four overseas players who can play, you have to work out what is the best combination on that particular day, against the particular opposition keeping the conditions in mind," he said.
The changes were also about trying out various options, he said.
"This year, unlike the previous two years, we are spoilt for choices. Sometimes, it is good... This year we got various options and they can just walk into the playing XI and perform just the way Nabi did," he said.
Replying to a query about instruction from the dug-out with captain David Warner when MI was batting, he said such a thing is quite common.
"T20 cricket is so quick. Sometimes, some outside help may be useful to the captain. It is not the first time it's happening. This will not be last time either," he said.
Laxman added that Yuvraj Singh's hand got jammed into the ground when he was fielding and there was enough time for him to recover as the team would play its next match only after four days. He also complemented Yuvraj for playing through despite the pain.