Bangalore: Kings XI Punjab captain George Bailey doled out a whole-hearted appreciation for a number of Indian players and coaching staff, who he says were vital in his team’s grand success in the just concluded seventh edition of the Indian Premier League.
Punjab made their first ever final since the inception of the T20 league in 2008 under Bailey and ended runners-up to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Bailey mentioned contributions made by Wriddiman Saha, opener Manan Vohra, coach Sanjay Bangar, fielding coach R Sridhar and young all-rounder Akshar Patel.
Talking about coach Bangar, Bailey said, “Everything that you see and like about Kings XI starts with Sanjay Bangar. He has been just fantastic with managing not only Indian players but also overseas players.”
“His knowledge of the game is wonderful and has the ability to draw younger players out of their shells to play. The way he has managed the overseas players. He has just been fantastic. He has had some great support from Joe Dawes and Sridhar, our fielding coach, but he has certainly been a high quality coach, I have been really impressed. It has been a pleasure to work with him, absolutely,” he added.
The Australian batsman was effusive in his praise for Akshar Patel. “He [Patel] is such an impressive package. Right from the first day, the knowledge of his own game and the awareness of his own game that he has for a 20-year-old is phenomenal. The calmness that he has, the poise that he has in big games,” Bailey told reporters after losing the final on Sunday night.
“He was bowling our key overs, he was our real go-to bowler. Wonderful fielder. I think he is going to have a long and very successful career,” the Australian added.
