Strolling to a convincing 10-wicket win in the season-opener of the Indian Premier League was the best start Kolkata Knight Riders could have asked for. Chasing a daunting 184 runs target against last year’s table-toppers; the two-time IPL champions chased down the total with utmost ease.
Chris Lynn, who was promoted as an opener for only the third time in his 87-match T20 career, blasted an unbeaten 93 off just 41 while Gautam Gambhir remained unbeaten on 76 off only 48 deliveries as the Kolkata-based team began their campaign in style.
It was a fantastic start to the season and KKR batsman Suryakumar Yadav could not agree more. Speaking at the post-match conference, the 26-year old said the win was the ‘best thing’ that happened to them and spoke on various topics ranging from the decision to promote Lynn as an opener, inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine in the team on a flat pitch and much more.
Excerpts:
On the convincing win:
“It was a fantastic start. Before coming here, we had a very good preparation in Kolkata for 6-7 days. Played a few practice games as well. What we wanted was to start the tournament on a high and this was the best thing to go about in the tournament.
On Lynn’s promotion as an opener:
“Since he came to Kolkata and we started the camp, we had one thing in mind. Our captain backed him for opening with himself.So it was the best thing. He told him straightaway that he is going to open in the tournament. So, it was not instant, it was all pre-planned.”
On planning the chase:
“When we came back in the break, we just had one thing in mind that we have to chase it because we didn’t have any other option. We didn’t have any pressure because everyone knew the job pretty well. It was a big total, playing the first game, nerves from both sides but the team which remained calm won the game.”
On the dropped catches:
“In any tournament or match, the catches are dropped. But it was a great effort on the field from first game’s point of view. It was the first game, nerves were there on the field. Had we held on to the catches, the total would have been less but these things happen in a game.”
The inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine in the playing eleven:
“Both of them (Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine) are very good spinners and we like playing more spinners because it’s our strength and it has been our strength. But as you’ve seen in the auction, we’ve picked up a few good fast bowlers as well, so it’ll be a well balanced team for us.”