Kolkata Knight Riders will be without the services of their last match hero Nathan Coulter-Nile for their upcoming Indian Premier League match against Rising Pune Supergiant on Wednesday (April 26).
The 29-year old Australia fast-bowler has made a stunning comeback after a frustrating long injury layoff that had kept him on the sidelines for the better part of Australia’s international and domestic matches in the last one year. However, he has been bowling as good as ever in the ongoing Indian Premier League. After taking 3 for 22 in his comeback match against Delhi Daredevils, the speedster announced his arrival with a stunning bowling performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore on last Sunday (April 23). The right-arm pacer dismissed Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Kedar Jadhav to bag the Man of the Match award as Kolkata Knight Riders bowled out the runners-up of last year for a paltry 49 to register their fifth win of the tournament.
But with the pacer just returning from the long injury layoff, the franchise are not willing to take a risk and have rested him for the upcoming clash against the in-form Supergiant, who have won their last three games.
The news was revealed by Knight Riders’ skipper Gautam Gambhir, who cited workload management as the reason.
“Nathan Coulter-Nile is not travelling. We don’t want to take a lot of workload and manage his schedule well. We have given him four days of rest,” Gambhir told reporters on the eve of the clash.
Coulter-Nile’s absence means either Shakib Al Hasan or Trent Boult could return to the playing eleven.
The skipper further said how his team managed to recover from a inexplicable batting collapse, when they were bowled out for 131 from 61 for 1, to register a thumping win over Virat Kohli’s men.
“I can understand when you have a bad day with the bat or with the ball. But you can’t have a bad day from the intensity point of view. I think that is what you play for and that is something which is in your hand. So that is what I spoke to them and the team delivered,” Gambhir said.
He said that his team has set the trend before admitting that it would be difficult to maintain it. At the same time, he is hoping his teammates to deliver on the expectations.
“It’s difficult to set the trend, but it’s more difficult to maintain it” he said.
“We have set the trend of intensity what you want to play with. Now the biggest challenge is how we can maintain it. That was one phase, now it is up to us.
“We have set the benchmark, now we need to maintain it. You know one game it’s easy to do but now people will be expecting us to deliver again. I hope the guys realise that and what I expect from the team and myself as well. It has to start from me,”the India opener said.
The two-time IPL champions are chasing a record third title this season- something which Gambhir feels is enough to motivate his teammates to do well.
“It’s the squad that makes me the captain I am. The biggest motivation stays if we can win the IPL third time and be the most successful team. That hunger stays and reflects on my teammates as well,” Gambhir said.