Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Safe to say that the Kolkata Knight Riders were far from their best in the first half of the IPL 2021. Having made a slow start in the 14th edition of the competition, the two-time IPL winners kept losing momentum time and again. As a result of which, they are placed 7th in the league table with only 4 points from 7 games. However, former KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik feels that the team could still manage to qualify for the playoffs.
Last season, when the IPL was staged in UAE, Eoin Morgan-led Kolkata Knight Riders missed the playoffs birth by a whisker due to their inferior Net Run Rate. Having said that, KKR will start the formidable task of rescuing a tough season when they lock horns against Virat kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore on September 20.
Karthik confident of KKR managing to pull-off the playoff miracle
In an interview on the official website of KKR, Dinesh Karthik was quoted as saying, “In order to qualify we need to win six out of seven matches. It’s as simple as that. As a team that’s what we’ll be looking to do. Take one game at a time and try to win six out of the seven remaining games.”
“Last year when we were in the UAE, we ended up missing the playoffs by a whisker. We won as many matches as the last team but missed it by a whisker. Two years on the trot we have been fifth on the table. That’s something that still gnaws at me,” added the 36-years-old wicket-keeper.
Lastly, Dinesh Karthik spoke about the quality of cricket the franchise is known to play over the years in the cash-rich league and also spoke upon the momentum and positivity flowing within the team.
Karthik concluding by saying, “KKR is known to play very positive and aggressive cricket. I want that to come through in the second half. I still think the team spirit is good. We're positive and we’ve a coach who’s always infusing positivity into us.”