When the two meet again at the iconic stadium on Saturday, erasing bad memories will hardly be the compulsion that drives a desperate KKR
PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer
Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders are entwined in a couple of IPL records, both quite embarrassing for the Knights. If the Kings created history last week by defending 111 against KKR at their home in New Chandigarh, they had, on this very day (April 26) last year, scripted the tournament’s highest successful run-chase at the Eden Gardens.
When the two meet again at the iconic stadium on Saturday, erasing bad memories will hardly be the compulsion that drives a desperate KKR. Having lost five of their eight matches, the defending champions are now in a fight for survival. Moeen Ali oozed the ‘Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo’ (we’ll fight, we’ll win) spirit on Friday. “Yes, definitely!” he responded when asked if he really thought KKR can qualify for the Playoffs.
Taking inspiration from MI
“If you look at history, even if you look at Mumbai [Indians]… they had a bit of a bad start, now they’ve won four in a row and they’re flying. We too need to have the same mindset and do the same thing. It’s going to take a lot of determination, a lot of belief for us to do that [but] it’s one of those competitions where you can win four or five games in-a-row,” the veteran off-spinner reminded.
KKR all-rounder Moeen Ali. Pic/AFP
If their much-vaunted batting unit is the main cause for KKR’s predicament, mortifyingly so against PBKS on April 15, it’s high time it gets its act together. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane and mentor Dwayne Bravo had both suggested after Monday’s loss to Gujarat Titans that the batsmen were low on confidence. As they try to be bold again, the beleaguered batsmen would do well to take a leaf out of their skipper’s book.
While his teammates have been losing shape trying to over-hit, Rahane, coming into crisis on most occasions, has been a picture of poise and purpose as he plays the situation. Deep into the tournament, the Knights wouldn’t want to change horses in midstream and will have to just trust the same set of players to find that calm.
KKR’s bowling unit has been delivering the goods, but GT skipper Shubman Gill had played a stellar role in ensuring a challenging total. On Saturday, another former Knight, last season’s trophy-winning skipper Shreyas Iyer, may want to show what KKR have been missing.
Punjab batters in fine from
The threat actually begins right from the start with openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh in fine form. With the likes of Shreyas, Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis to follow, Sunil Narine & Co. have its task cut out.
But, then, the clear and present danger for KKR is Yuzvendra Chahal and the other bowlers. The defending champions’ floundering batting unit will have to rise and resurrect their belief and fortunes.
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