Difficult to forgive bowlers who frequently over-step, says Gujarat Lions coach Brad Hodge

GUJARAT LIONS COACH BRAD HODGE has admitted that he isn’t too pleased with his bowlers bowling no-balls and batsmen losing their wickets quickly. The debutants succumbed to an eight-wicket loss to Delhi Daredevils in their second defeat in a row at home.

Pointing towards Ravindra Jadeja’s no-ball in which he had dismissed wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson, the Aussie coach told cricbuzz,

"There are quite a few areas of concerns. Firstly, you have to keep your foot behind the line, that's twice in two games that has happened. (It is) Unforgivable. (That was) Game over."

Sanju Samson was granted a lifeline after his side had just lost two wickets in quick succession. A wicket at that stage could have made things more interesting. Instead, the 21-year-old got a free hit and smacked it for a six.

The former Aussie batsman was also miffed with his side’s quick fall of wickets in the last two games.

"In the last match against Kings XI Punjab, Axar Patel took a hat-trick. Couple of balls didn't even turn. We lost three wickets in an over. And again (today we lost) three wickets in seven balls with three of our best batters (getting out). If you're 3 for 20, losing three of your best batters upfront, you're going to be in trouble. Same what happened in the last game."

Speaking about his maiden coaching stint, the 41-year-old added,

“I'm calm and composed. Sometimes as a coach, you want to give an outburst, give a rocket. In times like these, it is not going to achieve a lot. For me to go jumping on the table, screaming is going to do no good. That is certainly not going to make them better with the bat or (help them) make better decisions."