IPL 2017: Our Batting Has To Be Top-Class: Gautam Gambhir

Dec 23, 2018 at 10:58 AM

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IPL 2017: Our Batting Has To Be Top-Class: Gautam Gambhir

Over the last few year’s Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have heavily defended on slow and turning tracks to achieve success in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

With some of the finest spinners at their disposal in addition to some quality batsmen of spin bowling, the Kolkata-based outfit has tasted remarkable success in the league.

However, the team will be to change their strategy a little bit this time around, as the Eden Garden pitch will be offering ample bounce and turn.

And their skipper Gautam Gambhir is under no illusion that his batsmen will have to put up a good show this year if they are looking to win their third IPL title.

“From a track that used to favour spinners, it now has a good deal of pace and bounce in it. With that as a background, batting has to be top-class. The rival team fast bowlers will come hard at us and we have to be ready for that.”

The India opener further said that he is looking at Andre Russell’s unavailability as an opportunity because it gives someone else to make an impact. The West Indies star, who has been one of KKR’s most important players, will miss the season as he has been banned for a year for violating the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) whereabouts clause.

To fill the huge void, KKR bought highly-rated England all-rounder Chris Woakes. However, the English player is yet to prove his credentials as a hard-hitting batsman and there is absolutely no doubt that the team will miss the services of Russell.

“There are two ways to look at such situations in life. Either we can see Russell’s absence as a challenge or look at it as an opportunity in bold letters. I as an individual and KKR as a group are looking it as an opportunity. Maybe a combination of Manish Pandey’s batting and Ankit Rajpoot’s bowling can get us what Russell did. Not only Woakes but the entire team can try to fill-in for Russell and for that you don’t necessarily need an all-rounder. May be some other pair can do this.”

“We had left-arm pacemen in Jaydev Unadkat and Pradeep Sangwan in the past and understand the value of this skill that Boult brings in. Boult, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Umesh Yadav, Ankit Rajpoot and Woakes. We have all bases covered when it comes to fast bowling,” said Gambhir on his team’s pace bowling department.

The Delhi star also urged for patience with mystery spinner Sunil Narine who has struggled to perform consistently after remodelling his bowling action.

“I think we start judging people a little too soon. You can’t expect a golfer, who has changed his swing to be the same force from day one on the greens. I have changed my stance (to open chested) and it’s been close to two years now and I am still settling with it. Give Sunil some time and some space and he will show you his wares again,” Gambhir said.

KKR will kick off their campaign against Gujarat Lions on April 7.

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