Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Eoin Morgan heaped praise on his bowlers for their “outstanding” efforts after his team recorded two consecutive wins and claimed the number four spot in the points table in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) in the UAE.
Describing his bowlers as “superstars” of his team, Morgan said their performance in the last two IPL 2021 games against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians (MI) has allowed the openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer to play their natural game with freedom.
His comments came after KKR thrashed MI by seven wickets and entered the top-four in the IPL 14 points table on Thursday (September 23) in Abu Dhabi.
Morgan said at the post-match media conference, “I don't think it's one player that's changed the outlook of the team. I think in the last two games, the superstars in our side have been the bowlers; they have been outstanding on really good wickets to bat on here at Abu Dhabi. And I think that allowed our opening pair in (of) Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer to go out and play their natural game.”
Hailing bowlers for executing the plans unbelievably well, he noted: “I don't think it's a massive gamble, I think there is a lot of preparation and strategy that go into the decisions that are made on the field.”
Morgan continued, “Obviously when you are on the field, you need to adjust to what's happening with the pitch and conditions here at Abu Dhabi. And I think we had good games both with strategy and planning because the bowlers have executed unbelievably well. They have been in fine form, they have managed to do that and make the rest of our preparation look really good.”
The KKR skipper also lauded Iyer for his stunning show at the top of the order, as the left-hander played two match-winning innings of 41* and 53 to help KKR beat RCB and MI respectively in the ongoing IPL.
He further said, “I think Venkatesh played an innings today that would match a guy who's played possibly 50 IPL games. The freedom in which he has played with has really ... it was quite imposing as a batsman at the top of the order to be able to do that and today was no different. He's continued on his form from the first day. So, I don't think it's one player, I think it's collectively, I think it is set up by our bowling line-up which was magnificent again.”
Morgan also mentioned the contribution of the spinners, as they have been able to show their “high-quality” skills despite not getting much help from the wickets so far in the ongoing IPL 14.
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He added, “I think the quality of our spin bowlers means that they can bowl in conditions that aren't friendly to spin bowling and I don't particularly think that Abu Dhabi is, yes, the boundaries are bigger, but the two games that we have played, the ball hasn't turned pretty much at all. So far, they haven't played a massive part, it is just the high-quality that they are producing.”
The KKR skipper was also pleased to see his team is playing an “aggressive brand of cricket”, adding: “It is extremely pleasing. We want the best for everybody in the changing room and the aggressive cricket that we have shown in the last two games is exactly what suits the talented guys in our changing room.”
He signed off by saying, “I know some of them might feel alien to take risk after risk after risk, but that is exactly what we want them to do. They are a seriously talented batting and bowling line-up and we want them to continue to get better.”
Noteworthy, KKR will next take on Chennai Super Kings on 26 September in Abu Dhabi.
(With PTI Inputs)
