To be honest, we really haven’t been as bad as the IPL table suggests: George Bailey

Did not playing in Mohali and Pune as your adopted home instead work against KXIP?

I don’t think so. I don’t think we played good cricket to get results in our favour, to be honest. And, we had some really good support in Pune. We get good support wherever we go. Regardless of support, when we go out there we know who we are representing and give it our all.

Why did you opt to drop yourself from the playing eleven from that Super Over game (against RR) that Punjab eventually won?

It worked as David Miller (Bailey’s replacement) smacked a quick-fire fifty (30-ball 54). The challenge of every squad is to play the strongest possible team and not to rely only on a (fixed) eleven. You got to have depth in the squad and have different guys for conditions and who can push each other to break into the XI. We are quite fortunate to have guys with ability to perform different roles for us. So we don’t think too far ahead. Match day, opposition, conditions and then we decide on the best XI.

Has it been exciting for you to see the rise in Indian domestic players this season?

Absolutely! Anureet Singh was injured last year and missed out with a broken thumb. But he has taken the opportunity with both the hands this year. So it’s important for the boys to be ready and grab the opportunity when it comes their way. Manan Vohra did it (last season), so did Sandeep Sharma. So it’s exciting to see these young Indian players set up and contribute in our side’s success.

How difficult has been to keep someone like Manan Vohra on the bench? And is it hard to motivate those who are not getting a chance?

It’s not hard leaving him out as the other option is to leave out someone like Shaun Marsh. Gurkeerat Mann is another talent who hasn’t quite got the opportunity he deserves so far. As far as keeping them motivated is concerned, it’s pretty much up to each individual. Our job is to keep them happy and well trained so that when the opportunity comes, they make it count.

Seven games, just two wins. What do you think has gone wrong this season for you guys?

We haven’t played that bad, to be honest. We haven’t got thrashed very often.

Our batting has been okay and bowling too has been outstanding in patches and not so good in others. It’s now important that we be consistent and win those crunch moments in the game. It’s a very long tournament and a couple of good wins is all we need to set things rolling.