Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Brendon McCullum admitted that losing key overseas players like Eoin Morgan and Pat Cummins for the remainder of the IPL 2021 would be disappointing for them.
BCCI indefinitely postponed IPL 14 on 4th May after 29 games were played, as multiple COVID-19 cases emerged inside the bio-bubble.
However, BCCI recently confirmed after a virtual SGM that the remainder of the tournament will be shifted to the UAE and will be played during the window of September and October.
With IPL 2021 set to resume it is however reported that many overseas players are unlikely to be available for the remainder of the marquee tournament.
Talking about the same in interaction with Sports Today, Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum said that it would be disappointing for them if they lose some of the key overseas players because they tend to stay calm and deliver even in pressure situations.
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"If we are to lose some of those guys because that would be really disappointing. Structurally we had set it up to rely on those people. Some of those personalities, which we had picked, I knew if we were under pressure they would still be ready for the long haul and remain very calm during those key times," Brendon McCullum told Sports Today.
McCullum said that if they lose Pat Cummins and skipper Eoin Morgan who is ‘cool customers’ then they’ve to look into the group for guys who’ll step up.
"I think of Pat Cummins and Eoin Morgan, really calm and cool customers. If we were to lose them, then we have to find guys to step up into those roles, that's exciting and a good opportunity for some other guys,” he said.
KKR head coach remarked that if they lose key players then it would provide an opportunity for local players like Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana to lift their game.
"That might be some of the Indian boys and they might not be ready for such kind of responsibility just yet. That brings an opportunity, that gives a chance to someone like Shubman Gill or Nitish Rana to play beyond their years and grab the opportunity and drag the young Indian boys along. I am excited about what lies ahead and it's not going to be easy," he said
McCullum admitted that KKR didn’t play to their potential this reason
"We had a group of men whom we picked for this season and the 2021 season and we got halfway through that. Most of them said we were underperforming because we only won 2 of our first 7 games. To a degree, I do agree points-wise and performance-wise,” he added.
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Brendon McCullum further said that he is confident that KKR would turn things around and will try to play cricket that will make them a dangerous side.
"But I do feel we were really confident to put the pressure back on on the rest of the sides because we had learned a little bit about ourselves and we were starting to break some shackles of our insecurities and try to play a style of cricket that would make us a dangerous proposition," he concluded.
Kolkata Knight Riders didn’t have a great first phase of the IPL 14, as the Eoin Morgan-led side was placed seventh on the points table with just two wins from seven matches.
(Sports Today inputs)
