NEW DELHI: Director of Cricket for the Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara, has acknowledged that the team's poor performance in the latter stages of the current IPL may have been a result of exhaustion.
RR was well-positioned to be in the top two after winning eight of their first nine games.
With the exception of a washout tie, the Sanju Samson-led team lost four straight games and had to settle for third place.
Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated RR in Qualifier 2 on Friday in Chennai, despite their victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Eliminator.
"I think it was a great season for us. We started well, and then we lost a close game to SRH in Hyderabad and (in) Delhi also, we put ourselves in winning positions," he said during the post-match media interaction after their 36-run loss to SRH.
"Sometimes you have streaks. RCB lost almost every game at the start and then caught up. That's how T20 goes. All we can do is put ourselves in positions of playoffs and vying for finals, which we did.
"I think all the guys throughout the season played phenomenal cricket. There was a little bit of fatigue at the back end, but it doesn't matter when you're in games like this. You gotta turn up and perform."
After reaching 65 for two in the eighth over while chasing a total of 176, RR continued to lose wickets at a rapid pace, which ultimately proved to be their undoing.
Sangakkara thought that the middle-order could have performed better in his analysis of the loss.
"It was just a case of being smart and keeping our composure. Unfortunately, when you lose wickets in clusters, it becomes hard," he said.
"Even in the RCB chase, if you lose wickets, it gets tense and close. Unfortunately, we needed a little bit more from our middle-order."
Jos Buttler, a key player for the squad in the top order, was also absent for RR.
Sangakkara believed that other hitters ought to have taken the field, even though he acknowledged that they had no control on international scheduling.
"We always say that the best ability is availability, and unfortunately, we lost Jos. He is a big loss, without a doubt," he said.
"When you're in a playoff like this, and you've got that start without Jos, we expect the other batters to also step up."
For the T20 World Cup in the Americas next month, a few players from RR-Avesh Khan, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Yashasvi Jaiswal-will be traveling.
With 19 wickets in 15 innings at an economy of 9.59, Avesh has been the team's top wicket-taker for the season, and Sangakkara was full of praise for the fast bowler.
"We traded Devdutt Padikkal (to Lucknow Super Giants) for Avesh because we knew how good he was, and he's shown that throughout this tournament. And, that's why he's a travelling reserve as well for the World Cup for India," he said.
"He's got a great presence and good clarity. He's very good at finishing off in the death. I think he's been phenomenal for RR.
"And, we couldn't ask for a better trier. He bowls a lot in training. He's always up for a game. I thought again today he was outstanding."
'Don't have time to commit full-time to an India coaching job'
Citing time constraints, Sangakkara made it apparent that he had no intention of applying to be the head coach of India.
"I have not been approached, and I don't have time to commit full-time to an India coaching job. Happy with my stint with Royals, and let's see how it goes," he concluded.
1/8:Qualifier 2: SRH down RR to set up IPL final with KKR
PTI
2/8:Sunrisers Hyderabad Victorious
<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 36 runs on Friday to set up an IPL final against Kolkata Knight Riders, as spinner Shahbaz Ahmed starred with three wickets.</p>PTI
3/8:Heinrich Klaasen's Heroics
Heinrich Klaasen smashed 50 off 34 balls to help Sunrisers post 175/9.AFP
4/8:Shahbaz Ahmed Shines
<p>Ahmed came in as an impact substitute in Hyderabad's batting innings to score 18 runs and then returned figures of 3-23 with his left-arm spin to flatten the opposition chase.</p>AFP
5/8:Kolkata Knight Riders Await
Kolkata, who thrashed Hyderabad in the first play-off game to reach their fourth final, will meet Pat Cummins' side again in the decider.AFP
6/8:Pat Cummins' Impact
Cummins, who cost SRH $2.5 million at the auction, remains on the cusp of another title after he led Australia to the WTC trophy and then to the ODI World Cup in India last year.AFP
7/8:Rajasthan's Chase Falters
Rajasthan faltered in their chase despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's quickfire 42 before the opener fell to Ahmed and skipper Sanju Samson soon departed for 10.PTI
8/8:Hyderabad's Victory Path
Ahmed strick twice in one over, including the in-form Riyan Parag for six, and despite Dhruv Jurel's late unbeaten 56, inaugural champions Rajasthan fell well short.AFP(With PTI inputs)
