While Shreyas Iyer has received medical clearance to take part in the IPL 2024 season, there are concerns remain over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper’s fitness.
Notably, Iyer was sidelined for the final two days of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha last week due to reoccurrence of his back problem. He also missed last year’s IPL due to the same injury and Nitish Rana had to step in as KKR captain in his absence.
Ahead of KKR’s IPL 2024 opener against SRH on March 23, there are reports claiming that Shreyas could miss the initial few matches due to fitness issues. In that case, Rana might be required to lead KKR again.
In an exclusive chat with TOI, Nitish Rana hoped that he doesn’t have to perform the captaincy duties again. Nonetheless, he is willing to take the responsibility if such a situation arises.
“Shreyas is back with the team and is quite fit. Of course he had fitness issues in the past and we cannot take anything for granted. I hope I do not have to take up this responsibility again, as we are hoping Shreyas leads in all the matches. Having said that, if a situation arises where I have to wear the captain’s band again, I am ready for it. I was made the captain last year and that was the biggest thing for me. Although we did not achieve everything we wanted, yet it was the greatest experience for me,” Rana said.
KKR finished at the seventh spot in the team standings last season, having won only 6 out of their 14 league matches. However, Nitish Rana is confident of the team’s improved showing this year.
“This time, our team is very positive and you can feel it in the dressing room. There is a determination to win, which wasn’t so strong last year. Everyone is thinking about the trophy,” the left-hander stated.
Australian speedster Mitchell Starc’s inclusion has bolstered the KKR squad. The left-arm quick was roped in for a hefty sum of INR 24.75 Crore in the auction last December, making him the most expensive buy in the history of IPL.
When asked if the price tag will put an additional pressure on Starc, Rana replied: “Starc is too experienced to let the price tag affect him. We had been missing a death bowler and he has filled up that spot. He knows what needs to be done. In fact, I feel he will be one of our main performers this time. Of course, in T20 cricket, every bowler goes into a match knowing that he might go for runs and Starc is prepared.”
“Starc won’t have much support as KKR’s other pacers are quite inexperienced. We have three spinners and want them to control the game. That doesn’t mean we have not paid attention to the pace department. Last year all our three young pacers (Chetan Sakariya, Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana) did well in bits and pieces and we expect them to do the same this time. This is a chance for them to learn from Starc,” he explained.
Nitish Rana, who last played for India in 2021, made it clear that his sole focus is on the IPL at the moment and he is not thinking about the T20 World Cup 2024 selection.
“Everyone wants to play for the country and many players will have it in the back of their mind, but we have to stay in the present. I too want to get selected for the World T20 squad, but at this moment I am thinking only about the IPL. I believe I can get 600 runs in this tournament and I will be aiming for that,” he remarked.
(With TOI Inputs)
