IPL 2018: Jacques Kallis believes Gautam stepping down as captain might galvanize Delhi Daredevils

KKR will play Delhi at Kotla on Friday (27 April).

Gautam Gambhir stepped down as Delhi Daredevils captain | AFP

Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) head coach Jacques Kallis has expressed his concern on Thursday (26 April) over Gautam Gambhir stepping down as captain of Delhi Daredevils (DD), saying it ‘might galvanize the team into finding fresh energy and purpose’ in the ongoing IPL 2018.

As per reports in Times of India, Kallis said of Gambhir’s decision to leave DD’s leadership, “I am not familiar with the background to Gautam stepping down as captain but I am concerned that it might galvanize the team into finding fresh energy and purpose. GG is an honest assessor of his team, the opposition and himself and I wish him the best. Especially after our game.”

Dinesh Karthik and his Purple brigade are currently placed at the fourth position in the IPL 2018 points table with 3 wins in their 6 outings, and now certainly looking for another win when they will play struggling DD at The Feroz Shah Kotla Ground on Friday (27 April).

KKR coach further added, “The KKR boys are fresh and raring to go. It’s time for us to concentrate on what we do best and make sure we steer matches towards our strengths and then play to them.”

Kolkata will be firm favorites against out of form Delhi | IANS

The Purple army will return to field after a five-day gap, having last played on April 21 against the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), who have won by 9-wickets via D/L method at the Eden Gardens, and the South African great is confident that his fresh players are raring to go against the DD.

Kallis signed off by saying, “I’m confident that most of the squad have managed to do exactly what they needed to do – which wasn’t very much! The first thing I do when the IPL schedule is announced is to look to see where the ‘refuelling’ stops are along the way. I have run this race every year since 2008 as a player and a coach and I’ve seen many individuals and teams run out of energy at critical times because sprinted at the start and didn’t think about staying mentally and physically fresh.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 27 Apr, 2018

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