Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Dwayne Bravo on Wednesday (April 2) emphasized the significance of basics as he reminded his batters that staying aggressive all the time is "not cricket".
KKR’s attacking approach has led to their downfall in two out of three games in the ongoing IPL so far, Bravo is certainly not a fan of this method.
The defending champions' highest score this season has been 174/8 against RCB while they were bundled out for just 116 by MI.
As they return home after two away fixtures, KKR will be desperate to revive their campaign against SRH. Bravo highlighted the importance of sticking to "basics" ahead of the all-important fixture.
"As far as our batting group, yes, we are an aggressive batting line-up, but that's not cricket," Bravo said during the pre-match media interaction at Eden Gardens.
"What my message to my team and especially to the batsmen is that the basics of the game are still required. The smarts of the game are still required."
"These guys need to apply themselves a bit more. So the games that we lose, it's all learning. When you speak cricket, they get to understand the evidence of why we are failing as a batting group. Now, as coaches, it's important for us to try to break down the game, simplify it a bit, and trust that cricketing shots are also allowed in T20."
Despite two losses in three games, Bravo reckons there is no reason to panic as he mentioned that six teams have identical win-loss records.
"It's still early days in the tournament. We're not the only team that has two losses and one win. But it's important for us to bounce back, and that is our main focus right now."
Rinku Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, and Andre Russell who played key roles in KKR's triumphant campaign last season are yet to hit top form. However, Bravo urged against "judging them" based on just two matches.
"In a tournament where there are 14 games, you don't judge a player who has had success over the years after just two games. In one game, none of them got to bat."
"In the IPL, you don't want or expect any player to be consistent for 14 games. But it's important to keep encouraging them and reminding them how great they are. They already have success in IPL. And it's just a matter of backing them."
Ahead of the SRH clash, discussions around pitch conditions at the Eden Gardens have drawn attention, with team management reportedly preparing a "dry surface" to combat Sunrisers’ power-packed batting lineup.
However, Bravo downplayed the pitch factor. "I don't know much about pitches. For me, you turn up, you play, and the better team on the day will win the game. Whether the pitch is slow, turning, or not turning, my message to the players is always to make the necessary assessment, adjust accordingly, and play to the conditions."
(With PTI Inputs)
