Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Dwayne Bravo defended the team's batters following another shambolic performance against Gujarat Titans. KKR were restricted to 159/8 chasing 199 as they lost the match by 39 runs.
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00:00Obviously we didn't score in France. I think the bowlers first of all did
00:07a fantastic job. We've stricken them to under 200. Shubman Gill and
00:13Sy bat very well but credit our bowling group. They really bring it back and give
00:19us a chance at a halfway stage. I think we were the happier team.
00:22Unfortunately we didn't get the start we wanted in the power play and then yeah
00:29they slow us down short in the middle and obviously we faltered in the end.
00:40Are you happy about the wicket?
00:42Yeah nothing is wrong with the wicket. I haven't come here to talk about the wicket.
00:46I think both teams play on the wicket and you know we then play a good game of cricket.
00:51So definitely if we don't play in the three facets of the game good and the
00:59other team play better more likely they will win. So I'm not having anything
01:04and nothing is wrong with the wicket. So I just felt that they play better than us.
01:08They've been key moments and their batsmen but in the guys who but in the first three
01:16three you know they both score half century. So I think that was the difference.
01:23I think that was the first thing.
01:25So I think that you know the teams are sort of wrecking to the last one.
01:28Because they were one of the most dangerous players for the team. They're getting him out in a
01:32way that was very planned and he's losing it a bit. We saw that the first game also.
01:37They are getting him out in a way that was very bland and he is using it a little bit that way. We saw in the first game also that Rex can have that googly bolt with a baton pad within the baton pad.
01:55Is there some sort of thing you have seen because there is so much help from the players and machines to see what is happening? Do you think they are sorting out Russell?
02:09I would say so. Russell is an experienced player. He is a successful player. There are a couple of games where the leg spinners get him out.
02:20But I don't think we actually as a team batting properly. So that is the reality.
02:28Russell is not the only one who is struggling at the moment. But as a group we have to make sure that the players keep putting in the work in practice, keep preparing well, try to keep them mentally focused.
02:40But IPL is a tough tournament. When you don't start well, the batsmen go into a period where they lost confidence and that is what is happening at the moment.
02:53So like I said, we just have to keep backing them and hopefully they come good.
02:58I am especially saying this because after the first match, Australian fast bowler, Azubut, he said similarly, he said when Russell here we had a plan, you know, he had a leg spin around.
03:17That's what he said, I remember. And that is exactly what teams are doing today. And today, in fact, he stepped out of character a little bit because he didn't play from the crease.
03:28So today he actually attempted to go out of the crease. Is there some sort of battle going on there?
03:35No, not every team has leg spin as one. And then today, obviously Rashid Khan, one of the quality players. But, you know, when Russell walk into bat every time you have to this, the run it is at 14, 15.
03:48So the work needs to be done on top so that he has the, we give him a chance to finish up games like he had custom been doing over the years for KK.
03:58So, yeah, yes, leg spinners get him out a few times, but I don't think that is a big concern.
04:06I just figured that, you know, we need to bat better to allow our finishers to finish cricket games.
04:12Last couple, thank you.
04:14Hi, bravo, Shesh from Crick and Pooja.
04:16Do you believe that KKR, the batting order especially, are trying to do a little bit too much like GTE or the other teams are doing well,
04:25their batting order seems like, of course, a winning team allows them to even settle.
04:30But KKR has always been a team which will get ahead of the curve when it comes to batting strategies or doing things differently and that works.
04:37But as the QNT game has gotten matured now, it's in older format now, we have seen that teams have gone back to the basics of batting,
04:45they are succeeding against good bowlers.
04:48Do you think somewhere in this aspect KKR is getting things wrong?
04:51Because in the middle order, not for more than two games in a row are three people coming out of the same batting order.
04:57We have played a lot of IP cricket, of course.
05:00What's your observation on this particular question?
05:03Are you guys doing too much and therefore going wrong?
05:05So you think we're changing the order too much or we're not changing it? Which one?
05:10Obviously, if the things are changing to the Samprish Tom at number 9, for example, of course, he overnows it.
05:16Well, we didn't start the game for him to bat at number 9.
05:20But the way how the game panned out, eventually, he ended up at number 9.
05:25So, you know, we tried to create a left-right combination.
05:29I think we are one of those teams that are blessed to have quality left-handers and right-handers in our top order.
05:36And so you try to use that to the best of your ability, especially whenever opposition have quality spinners, left-handers, off-spin and leg-spin.
05:45So you try to use that left-right combination for as much as possible.
05:49And so, yeah, unfortunately, Anki has to keep sliding down the order.
05:54But we will start the game with Anki batting number 9.
05:57He's one of our better players.
05:59You know, he's been doing very well for us throughout the season.
06:02But also, when they chase in 200, you try to maximize as much as possible.
06:08Try to get the guys who have the ability to really hit the ball in the middle.
06:13Again, our batters low in confidence.
06:16And normally, confidence runs bring confidence.
06:19Form brings confidence.
06:21And we are the moment, to be honest, don't have the confidence at the moment.
06:26But the guys are preparing well and practicing well.
06:28They are not sitting back and missing practice.
06:31So, as coaches, as a group, we cannot fault the effort.
06:36It's just not working out in the middle.
06:38But I have to just keep backing the team and supporting the guys.
06:43Just as a small follow-up.
06:45Of course, given the record, you've got a good game for KPR to look to him.
06:51And Madam Krish, I mean left and right hand, I think aside,
06:54when he is among the top in-form backers for KPR in the top 3 or 4,
06:59still, the thought process was to keep pushing him,
07:02will not bring the low confidence backers up when it was a game to win.
07:05What was the thought process?
07:07We think about it, but like I said, because of the left-right combination,
07:11I think we get caught up with that.
07:13But you're right, he is one of the better players currently in the set-up in terms of runs.
07:18Him along with the captain Jinx.
07:21But we just felt after the power play,
07:23we know that they are going to come on with their left-hand orthodox and their leg spinners.
07:27You always want to have that left-right combination.
07:31And obviously Jinx back for a period of a while.
07:33So, yeah, that's the only reason why.
07:37Last one, Archivan.
07:39This is Archivan from the time setting here.
07:42Russ, Robert, for the second consecutive matches,
07:45we have seen that KKR has failed to finish off matches.
07:48So, do you think now the main concern is now to find a good finisher
07:53as such, we are not getting that finisher
07:55with the role which was played by Russell or Winkoo in the previous editions maybe?
07:59Yeah, it's a concern.
08:01Definitely, those are the things I discussed.
08:03But, you know, obviously,
08:06you always try to bug the players who have been there and done it before.
08:09They had a lot of success in the past.
08:11So, it's important to try and bug them.
08:14But then now, with a fine line between
08:18bugging a player and trying to come up with the best combination,
08:22that we can also try to make some changes,
08:25make some necessary adjustments
08:27to give the team that spark that is missing.
08:31So, it's something we have to discuss as a group,
08:33as a staff,
08:35and then see, look forward to the next game.