The team led by Dinesh Karthik has played four matches so far in the tournament this time around and came out victorious twice.
Former Australian cricketer and current KKR Senior Mentor, David hussey believes that basic concepts, understanding of roles, and executing plans under immense pressure are key to team success.
IPL 2020: CALENDAR | TABLE OF POINTS
In an exclusive interview with Timesofindia.com, ahead of the 2020 IPL season, Hussey talked about KKR’s title chances this year, his favorite IPL moment, adventurer Andre Russell, young sensation Shubman Gill and much more .. .
Excerpts …
You played for KKR as a player for three seasons. You now have a mentor role. How is this new challenge?
Yes, it is a new challenge to mentor the group. Especially from your gaming days on how you played. It’s more about the next generation and how to get the best out of their game, understand them as people, and then try to make them as relaxed as possible once they hit the ground.
Your favorite KKR IPL moment that you will always cherish …
It was when we played top-down field at Eden Gardens at home for the first time against Deccan Chargers and the lights went out. It was not a great launch. Fortunately, I was able to do the winning runs and it was a great feeling after the game. All the boys got a lot of confidence in that game
Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell (PTI Photo / Sportzpics for BCCI)
It’s been a long time since we last saw KKR lifting the IPL trophy. Your take on the team’s opportunities this year? Do you think that Dinesh Karthik can do what Gambhir did in the past (2012 and 2014)?
Well, every year you prepare to win the IPL, but unfortunately there is only one team that can really win it. Our job is to make sure everyone knows their roles, everyone is clear about what they have to do in order for us to win a lot of cricket games for the Kolkata Knight Riders. If we do the basics very well, understand their roles very well and execute our skills under immense pressure, I think we can go a long way to win a lot of cricket games and qualify for the final first. We have a good and balanced side. I think we have a really good method, a really clear and concise method and hopefully one that helps us go a long way and go deeper into the tournament.
KKR has someone like Andre Russell who can turn a game around without help. If you had to describe Russell in one word, what would it be?
If I have to pick a word for Russell, it will be ‘Superhuman’. It is not normal and can win for you in any situation. The team could be six down for 120 runs chasing 190 and Andre Russell is closing in on the fold. You can change the execution speed very, very quickly. He is superhuman and we are very fortunate to have him in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad.
(Photo by PTI / Sportzpics for BCCI)
KKR has been using Sunil narine like an SUV for a few seasons, choosing to open the entrances with him Your comments on Sunil. Should he also be called a mystery hitter?
HUSSEY: (Laughs) It’s a real all-rounder. It’s not like that? Fortunately, we have some genuine off-roaders. Nitish Rana, Chris Green, Andre Russell of course, which is very helpful. Opening hitting is probably not my strategy. Usually you always try to protect your best players. He is one of the best T20 bowlers in the world or white balls in the world. But he has done very well, opening batting for the Kolkata Knight Riders. It would be stupid not to continue with that as well. But luckily, Brendon has to make those tough decisions with the batting order.
KKR seems to have a well balanced bowling lineup …
Fortunately, we have a very balanced bowling attack. We have good young Indian bowlers. Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Sandeep Warrier, and then we have Pat cummins Also, Lockie Ferguson. It really is a well balanced side. We also have really good spinners in Kuldeep and Narine. In my experience, in T20 cricket, it takes the whole team to win many cricket games. So if you are not performing or out of shape or low in confidence, it is up to the next person to take the initiative and take that position. But each one has to fulfill their role in the team so that we can go deeper into the tournament.
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