Gujarat Lions Captain Suresh Raina Praises Bowlers After Making Winning Start

By: Tarish Bhatt

Gujarat Lions made a winning start in the Indian Premier League by registering a comfortable five-wicket win over Kings XI Punjab in Mohali.

There was a time when Punjab was cruising with openers Manan Vohra and Murali Vijay, but Gujarat crawled back with Ravindra Jadeja and Dwayne Bravo.

Both Gujarat bowlers bowled impressively and restricted the hosts to a moderate total, which the visitors chased down pretty easily at the end.

Gujarat Lions skipper praised his bowlers for setting up a clinical win, while also admiring experienced players and the coaching staff.

“We pulled it (back) really well,” Raina said after the win. “Bravo, PK, Faulkner, Jadeja bowled really well. At one stage we thought they would get to 200.”

“We have a couple of international captains in our side, and Hodgy has a lot of experience too, and that really made a difference,” he added.

Meanwhile, Aaron Finch, who made a scorching half-century for Gujarat, echoed his skipper’s sentiments, crediting bowlers for the win.

“Nice to start off the tournament well, but I think all credit goes to our bowlers,” Finch said. “It was a beautiful wicket, there was some grass on it and it skidded on really well.”