KXIP look to replicate hot early streak of 2014
By the time Kolkata Knight Riders reached Eden Gardens, strains of ‘Tu Ne Maari Entriyan’ had died down and the drill for the opening ceremony made way for cricket.
But it was perhaps due to a rehearsal of Thursday’s show that Kings XI Punjab had to rehearse their lines for an evening game in mid-afternoon heat.
Thursday’s match is between two-time champions and a team on a two-match winning run. It is also a clash between a team that has been set over the years and one which plummeted from being runners-up in 2014 to end up last in the next two seasons.
No wonder KXIP wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha kept referring to what happened in Dubai (early in the 2014 season). Everything thereafter may seem too painful to recall!
For KKR, the penultimate-ball loss to Mumbai Indians on Sunday is, if not painful, a little setback, according to head coach Jacques Kallis.
“Rather than hurting, our guys would have learnt from that because it happened in the early part of the season,” said the former South Africa all-rounder.
Kallis didn’t want to give too much away by way of team composition but with Umesh Yadav back after a break to recover from niggles following a demanding Test season, he may replace Ankit Rajput.
It will also have to be seen whether Trent Boult stays in the 11 after struggling with his length at the death against Mumbai Indians.
But on how KKR cope with the absence of Chris Lynn, who has made the kind of impact IPL associates with Chris Gayle, could be crucial. “We will continue the good work Lynn started atop the order,” said Kallis.
Lynn’s unavailability due to injury could mean reverting to the opening pair of Robin Uthappa and skipper Gautam Gambhir. On Thursday, Lynn’s spot may go to Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who comes off an all-round performance
Aussie batsman Chris Lynn is unlikely to play but former champions will be boosted by India pacer’s likely return
in the last
T20I against Sri Lanka on Saturday, scoring 38 and taking 3/24.
The nature of wickets at Eden has changed from slow turners where KKR would choke the opposition.
“We are fortunate enough to have spinners who can bowl on any conditions,” said Kallis. Though they had over a week to train before travelling, none among Umesh Yadav, Shakib and Sunil Narine were available then.
While talking about Narine, who is still adjusting to an altered bowling action, Saha didn’t forget to mention that it’s easier to deal with a bowler low on confidence.
Rather than hurting, the Kolkata guys would have learnt from (the loss vs MI) that because it happened early in season
Every match is a new one. We will have to forget that we won two matches. At the back of our mind we have the confidence IN THE 2014 FINAL, SAHA MADE A GALLANT 115 NOT OUT IN 55 BALLS WITH 10 FOURS AND EIGHT SIXES BUT KXIP’S TOTAL OF 199 WAS OVERHAULED BY KKR.
What also needs rectification for KKR is their catching in the deep. Kallis conceded it has been “surprising because we pride ourselves in doing that well. For me, it’s such an area that we really want to improve.”
KKR may have dropped the match on Sunday when substitute Rishi Dhawan floored an offering from Hardik Pandya, who hit the winning runs next ball. And against Gujarat Lions, they extended Suresh Raina’s stay at the crease.
For Wriddhiman Saha, momentum is a wonderful word now. In the middle of a good run as India Test wicket-keeper who is also a handy bat, he is also part of a Kings XI Punjab team that ended up last in IPL 2016, but is one win away from notching up a hattrick in the 10th edition.
That could come against twotime champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Thursday at the Eden Gardens, a venue Saha also calls home.
“In Dubai (IPL 2014) in the initial three-four matches, we didn’t do much of individual planning and won. That momentum took us to the final. We are trying to retain the initial momentum,” said Saha, 32, speaking after nets on a scorching afternoon on Wednesday.
He was referring to KXIP winning their first five games in the 2014 edition, part of which was held in the UAE because of general elections.
In the final, Saha made a gallant 115 not out in 55 balls with 10 fours and eight sixes but KXIP’s total of 199 was overhauled by KKR. Maybe that’s why while looking back Saha was being selective.
He spoke of having ‘forgotten’ his Man of the Match performance against New Zealand last year. “Past is always past.”
“Every match is a new one for us here. We will have to forget that we won two matches. Yes, at the back of our mind we will have the confidence that comes from winning two games,” said Saha.
Ditto when questions veered to the bonhomie with skipper Glenn Maxwell and other Australians, days after an acrimonious Test series. “We don’t talk about the past. We haven’t spoken about it. The focus is on the IPL,” Saha deadpanned.
KXIP, said Saha, have kept things flexible this term. “There is no batting order,” he said of the two games they have won comfortably, against Rising Pune Supergiant and Royal Challengers Bangalore. There is, however, a lot of aggression, courtesy Maxwell, who made 43 off 22 balls in the win against RCB.
“He and Viru bhai (Virender Sehwag, Head of Cricket Operations) have told us to play freely and that has got us winning in 15-16 overs,” said Saha, whose biggest contribution so far has been a stunning catch of the kind he seems to have made a habit of this term.
With Saha around, questions on the Eden was as inevitable. “I have played a lot here but even at this ground a lot has changed. The wicket, for instance, was pace-friendly against New Zealand. I think it will more or less be the same.
This will be the first match of the IPL here and we may have to see the first few overs before deciding our approach.
“Most players in my team have played here thanks to either the IPL or international cricket. I have come here with the mentality of playing an away game, so I prepared for the Eden not backing me,” said Saha.