Not 100 per cent fit but batting remains unaffected: KKR’S Chris Lynn

KOLKATA: Ignored for Australia's upcoming limited-overs tours, six-hitting sensation Chris Lynn on Tuesday said he may not be 100 per cent fit on the field, but he is batting with "freedom" and fulfilling expectations.

Troubled by a dodgy shoulder, the 28-year-old was deemed unfit and was dropped for Australia's upcoming limited-overs tours of the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe.

But the Kolkata Knight Riders opener has had a successful return from injury in the Indian Premier League, scoring 277 runs at 30.77 with a strike rate of 133.81.

"I was probably a little bit nervous and apprehensive early on but of late I can bat with freedom. I've showed that in the last couple of innings in small glimpses.

"I am certainly not 100 per cent. For me batting is not an issue at all, that's first and foremost priority. On the field, I am not fielding at the positions that I want to field in," Lynn said on the eve of their match against Mumbai Indians.

The most expensive Australian in the IPL, Lynn has played in all 10 of KKR matches but is limited in his ability to throw with his dominant left arm while he's also been instructed not to dive, given that he has injured both shoulders while diving in recent years.

"I'm a little bit restricted there. But at the end of the day, if I score more runs then I'm doing my job. Batting is priority. I think a big score is just round the corner."

MI have won 17 of the 21 matches they have played against KKR across 11 seasons -- the most wins for an IPL team against any opponent.

In the first-leg two days ago, MI stretched their winning streak to seven matches, as KKR'S last win against them had come in 2015.

Lynn said both teams tend to step up as they have built a healthy rivalry over the years.

"They got the better of us in Mumbai and we would definitely be looking to get one back. If we take our foot off the throat, we can find ourselves very quickly out of the competition. We want to make sure we are out there in the finals, making a run for the Cup."

History may suggest it's advantage Mumbai Indians but their batsman Jean-paul Duminy looked to live in the present.

"It's certainly not in our mind. There's been some great success against KKR but at the end it's about performance on that day. It will not play any part going into tomorrow's game. It does not represent much. It's about how you going to approach tomorrow's game. You got to make sure what's in front of you."

The defending champions have revived their campaign with back-to-back wins.

"There's (only) one way to go and play best cricket with our backs against the wall. You can try duck and dive, and shy away from the pressure. What's been great about our team that we stood up and recognised that we need to take the responsibility and change the fortunes around. KOLKATA: Hosts Kolkata Knight Riders run the risk of slipping away when they face resurgent defending champions and 'nemesis' Mumbai Indians in an IPL clash, here tomorrow.

KKR have an onerous task at hand as they need to defy history against Mumbai Indians, who have won 17 of the 21 matches against the hosts across 11 seasons -- the most wins for an IPL team against any opponent.

Their 13-run defeat at the Wankhede on May 6 stretched their losing streak to seven matches and 1125 days -- KKR'S last win over Mumbai Indians was way back on April 8, 2015.

While KKR are fast running of time, the most successful IPL franchise, MI, are peaking at the right time, a revival that's quite akin to their triumphant campaign in 2015 when the Rohit Sharma-led side won seven of their last eight matches en route the title.

Both teams have four matches left in the round-robin league, but KKR have won five matches one more than MI as a loss for any of the two sides may complicate their play-off aspirations.

For KKR to overcome the past, Sunil Narine once again will have to play a crucial role both with the bat and ball.

A dehydrated Narine had to bat lower down the order in their previous clash and it did not help their 182-run chase. Narine will look to be back at the top and set them up with a fiery start.

Sharma is a vital cog in MI'S batting as Narine will be KKR'S answer with his exploits against the opponent skipper who has been dismissed six times by the Trinidadian.

But Narine will need more backing from the other bowlers especially their pacers who have been a big let down this season.

Be it veteran Mitchell Johnson or Tom Curran, both have been expensive, while allrounder Andre Russell seems to be underbowling to preserve his troubled hamstring.

Shivam Mavi was forced to sit out with a finger injury and in his absence Prasidh Krishna did a reasonable job as it remains to be seen whether the U19 World Cup winning pacer would be back in action.

With 71 required from 48 balls and a well-set Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana in the middle, KKR'S chase looked under control before they were done in by a barrage of short balls. Both Rana and Russell got out to short balls and were dismissed with addition of just 19 runs after Uthappa's fall to derail their chase which seemed achievable.