Kolkata can still make the play-offs, says Gill

Bangalore star player De Villiers reaches Dubai

Shubman Gill, the Kolkata Knight Riders opening batsman, feels that his team is still in with a chance of making it to the play-offs of IPL 2021 which resumes in the UAE from September 19.

The Indian opener, who arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday after an extended rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for his shin injury from Bengaluru, said: “I think a break was really important. Sometimes such things happen that you don’t expect. I think we are very much in the contention to finish in the Top 4. Whichever team qualifies, you never know what will happen. So, hopefully, we will win the remaining matches, make sure we qualify and then we’ll see where we go from there.”

A two-time champions, the Knights will be looking to shrug off memories of the first leg which saw them languishing in the seventh spot of the table with just two wins. Gill said KKR: “If we keep doing what we have done in the past years and just enjoy our game, then it’s not possible that we won’t do well or qualify.”

Six-day quarantine

Meanwhile, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers landed in Dubai yesterday to join the Royal Challengers Bangalore camp and will get into quarantine of six days before hitting the ground for training sessions. “From the friendly @emirates staff to the amazing welcome at the @jatheresort, all in all a very pleasant trip to the UAE. Exciting 6 weeks ahead. And not a bad view from our room,” wrote de Villiers on Instagram.