IPL 2016: Sandeep Sharma lauds Marcus Stoinis and Mohit Sharma after KXIP victory

Marcus Stoinis won the Man of the Mtach award for his all-rounding performance

Kings XI Punjab pacer Sandeep Sharma heaped praise on his teammates Marcus Stoinis and Mohit Sharma after they guided the team to a phenomenal nine-run victory over Delhi Daredevils at Mohali on Saturday.

Mohit, though wicketless, ended his quota with an economy rate of 5.25 and restricted the DD batsmen from scoring runs, while Stoinis smashed a half-century and picked three wickets to prove his all-round qualities. This win kept KXIP's hopes in the tournament alive although they are still in the last position on the table.

The Australian right-hander, who helped his team put 181 on the board with his 44-ball 52, also picked Quinton de Kock, Sanju Samson and Sam Billings, the three key players for DD, at a crucial moment.

"He (Stoinis) is a unique player. He has adapted very well to Indian conditions. It's the first time he's coming to play in India. Today he made a fifty and obviously his bowling was top class. He's become an asset for Kings XI now," Sandeep said after the win.

"When we made 180 runs we had confidence that we could win this match because our bowling has been doing well and we have been bowling well at the death."

Sandeep said that Billings's wicket was the key point in the match, which the side capitalised on. DD made a brisk start, and needed 41 off 19 deliveries in the end, when Stoinis bowled a slower short-ball that Billings edged to the wicket-keeper.

"I think the turning point was Stoinis's wickets. The wicket of Billings particularly, he got that and went for less than six runs in that over. And in the next over, Mohit Sharma bowled brilliantly. That was the turning point. When I came to bowl, there were plenty of runs and I had to only save two or three balls for us to win the match," the 22-year old said.

Sandeep also said that it was a relief to finally win a game after their bad run in the tournament this season.

"We've have been playing good cricket. We came close in a few matches but lost. I think we have now got the right combination and the captain also knows how to use bowlers. Our batting is also clicking. Like Maxwell and Miller they didn't make runs at the start of the tournament, but now they're also making runs. So that's a positive sign for us.

"It's a team game, and we have been bowling well. We've been doing that consistently and hopefully we can carry that forward through the tournament."

Sandeep hoped KXIP could carry on the same momentum they have gained from their performances against the table toppers like Kolkata Knight Riders, Gujarat Lions and Delhi Daredevils, when they take on Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday.