IPL 2021| Brendon McCullum backs Morgan to turn things around quickly, laments absence of Russell

Kolkata Knight Riders Eoin Morgan has had a harrowing Indian Premier League so far with the bat as he has been able to manage only 109 runs from 11 innings at an abysmal average and strike rate of 10.98 and 100.92, but for the KKR think tank it is not a matter of grave concern.

The KKR coach Brendon McCullum has thrown all his weight behind Morgan and said that the skipper will come good sooner rather than later albeit expressing the desire of having more contributions from experienced players. However, he said that the lack of runs with the bat has not affected his captaincy one bit as the KKR are still alive in the race to playoffs.

"He's one of our senior players. He's one of our international batters and in his own head, he would have loved to contribute more runs. think he's captained the side really well. But look, you want some more runs from him there's no doubt in there. You need runs from your overseas players and you particularly need in those key spots as well. I am confident he will come alright. Some guys are really going well,” McCullum said in the post-match press conference after the defeat against the Punjab Kings.

KKR’s issues don’t end with Morgan’s form as the injury to their biggest match-winner Andre Russell has come as a massive setback for them in the critical phase of the tournament. McCullum lamented that finding a perfect balance between the batting and bowling department become seriously difficult in absence of big players like Russell.

He said that the KKR had to choose between going in with strengthened batting or strengthened bowling and in the end, they went for the former.

They brought in Tim Seifert for the game against the Punjab Kings and McCullums said that the move was in line with the team’s thinking of strengthening the middle order while using the bowling credentials of Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer to cover for the absence of Russell.

"We've got several options. You make certain calls when you are a coach which you got to go on a gut feel as well. (Tim) Seifert has been doing really well when he played for TKR in CPL, he did really well in the middle order. We certainly felt we needed to strengthen the middle order a little bit. We got a good start and that meant we shuffled him behind Morgan and DK.

"When you take out Russell, it's always difficult to balance your side. We got home in Sharjah but we felt a batter short. We felt if we are able to play the extra batter, we can utilise the bowling of Venkatesh Iyer and Rana, who is a very cagey bowler. When you take one of your big players out, who happens to be an allrounder, you always have that delicate balance to try and balance your side. You have to either go with your batting strong or bowling strong. In hindsight, when we got 160-odd, it would have been nice to have another bowler."

The KKR are not out of the race to the playoffs but the last defeat against the Punjab Kings affected their standings on the points table and while being eager to win their remaining three games, they might as well have to rely on other’s good or bad performances as well to advance to the next level.

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IPL 2021 | KKR vs PBKS: What Experts Said after Shahrukh Khan plays vital role in keeping Punjab's hopes alive

Punjab Kings almost produced another nail-biter from a winning position against Kolkata Knight Riders when captain KL Rahul gave away his wicket to Venkatesh Iyer on the second ball of the last over where they just needed 4 off the last five balls. But thanks to Shahrukh Khan and Punjab’s luck, the right-hander managed to hit a maximum and take the team over the line. Shahrukh swung the bat with full force on a touch slower delivery from Iyer towards the deep mid wicket boundary and the fielder in the deep went for the catch but the fielder over ran to eventually drop it and the ball went beyond the boundary rope. As they say, All's Well That Ends Well. Khan remained unbeaten at 22 off 9 deliveries. But this prominent saying is only applicable for this game as far as Punjab Kings are concerned as the coaching manual has gone for a toss especially after the team management decided to bench Shahrukh in the second leg of the IPL 2021 before this clash. The Tamil Nadu batsman has the ability to get runs at a brisk pace and which is where PBKS have probably missed the trick. Well, they have now got a couple of important points and are placed at fifth spot with 10 points and two more matches to go. The Kolkata Knight Riders who were put into bat rode on a brilliant knock from Venkatesh Iyer who struck his second IPL fifty to put 165/7. The left-hander notched up 67 off 49 before getting out while Nitish Rana too chipped in with some crucial runs at a quick pace. He scored 18-ball 31 which included a couple of sixes and as many fours during the course. Arshdeep Singh scalped three wickets for 32 runs in 4 overs for PBKS while Shami and Ravi Bishnoi also returned with impressive figures. Shami picked up one wicket at the cost of 23 runs in 4 overs. On the other hand, the leggie bagged a two-fer for 22 runs in 4 overs. In reply, Rahul and his opening partner Mayank Agarwal began the proceedings in a steady manner and stitched a stand of 70 runs for the first wicket before Agarwal eventually departed for 40 off 27. The right-hander’s wicket saw wickets falling for Punjab at regular intervals and the side was reduced to 134/4. Rahul was then joined by Shahrukh in the middle and the two batters put up a partnership of 28 runs for the fifth wicket. Rahul was eventually out for 67 off 55. Varun Chakravarthy was the pick of the bowlers for KKR after he picked up 2 wickets for 24 runs in 4 overs. PBKS captain Rahul took a sigh of relief after his team stood on the winning podium despite getting themselves into a crunch situation. “I'll take the two points (heaves a huge sigh). We played it smartly. Realised it was a decent wicket and can't experiment too much. Went slightly defensive with the ball. Wasn't much spin. Wanted to make the batters hit to the bigger side. With the bat also we've given clear roles to players,” he said in the post-match presentation. KKR skipper Eoin Morgan put the onus of the defeat on bad fielding and said that dropping catches in the initial phase cost them the game. “Initially we didn't field that well, we put catches down, myself early and other guys, it has cost us. When the game gets that tight towards the end, extra few wickets down would have helped us,” he said. Experts’ Opinion Journalist Ayaz Memon lauded Shahrukh Khan for hitting the winning six and lavished praise on KL Rahul for anchoring the side to a win. “Shahrukh’s pyrotechnics ensured PBKS wouldn’t fall behind on the asking run rate, but the team owes it to KL Rahul for anchoring the team to victory against odds,” he tweeted. Commentator Harsha Bhogle praised Shahrukh and the way he stitched his cameo against KKR. “Well, Shahrukh looks a serious player.....He won't be dropped again,” he wrote on Twitter. Former India bowler RP Singh hailed Rahul for playing a match-winning innings. “What a great news it will be for India if KL Rahul goes to World Cup with the Orange cap. Well done captain for leading from the front,” he tweeted. Former India opener Aakash Chopra too put his weight behind Shahrukh and said that the right-hander grabbed the opportunity that came his way. “PBKS paid ₹5.25 crore to acquire Shahrukh Khan. And to be honest, looked like someone with serious ball-striking skills in the first leg too. Interestingly, this was his first game in the UAE leg. Might not have played if Gayle was still around. An opportunity he’s grabbed,” Chopra wrote on Twitter. PBKS will now play RCB in Sharjah on Sunday while KKR will lock horns with SRH in Dubai on the same day.

South Africa's new strategic consultant JP Duminy optimistic about team’s chances in WC

Former South Africa all-rounder JP Duminy has been appointed as the new strategic consultant of the Proteas for the upcoming T20 World Cup taking place in UAE and Oman. The 37-year-old, who retired recently in 2019 from all formats of the game is thrilled to be among the players whom he played alongside just a few years ago. He has had a few sessions with the team in his new capacity and feels that the players are buzzing and having belief in them to end South Africa’s drought of ICC World Cups. "I am very optimistic about what I've seen over the last couple of days. I love what I am seeing. I am loving the conversations that are happening and the clarity but also there is this belief within each other, which is great to see. And in many ways, also contagious,” Duminy was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. Talking about his role in the setup, the Cape Cobras man said that he wants to share his experience of playing in pressure situations and tell players that they are worthy enough of being in the squad whether they have played one match or hundred matches. "We want to make sure we provide them with enough information for them to find the answers as well. This is an environment, it is not a dictatorship. It is a facilitation of learning. If we are in a position to ask the right questions, we can collectively find the right answers,” Duminy said about his role in the team. "People want to feel valued and as they belong. Having had the experience of playing here for 15 years, I truly understand that. It doesn't matter who you are, in terms of playing 100 games or one game, there's always an inherent need to feel like you belong to something bigger than yourself. That's what the Proteas is about. It's a representation of 60 million people and there's great,” the Proteas added saying that getting 100% from a player is only possible if he feels he belongs in the team. Duminy, who has spent 15 years in the Proteas colours travelling all around the world said that if families are allowed to travel with the players, it could boost their confidence and provide the much-needed distraction. “It's important to have perspective and to have a greater cause or purpose outside of the game. This is also where the families come in. The families play an integral part in calmness. They are a positive distraction if one can call it that,” he said.

Sri Lanka includes Pathum Nissanka among five additional members in T20 World Cup squad

The Sri Lanka Cricket’s Selection Committee included 05 more additional players to join the Sri Lanka squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021. In a Press Release, the SLC said that the inclusions were made as part f the team’s Oman tour where they will be playing the host team ahead of the World Cup in a two-match T20I series. “The Minister of Youth and Sports Honorable Namal Rajapaksa ratified the following inclusions. Pathum Nissanka, Minod Bhanuka, Ashen Bandara, Lakshan Sandakan, Ramesh Mendis,” the release said. Along with five additions, there was a removal too as all-rounder Lahiru Madushanka, who was named in the original squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup got injured and hence will not travel with the team. Thus, the Sri Lankan squad flying on October 3rd to Oman would now consist of 23 players. Among the new entrants in the World Cup squad, Mindo Bhanuka has recently played for the national squad, while Nissanka and Ramesh Mendis have also been consistent members of the Sri Lankan squad. As far as Ashen Bandara and Lakshan Sandakan are concerned, they have also been in and out of the squad in the recent past and have international cricket exposure.

IPL 2021 | RR vs CSK: Sanju Samson’s biggest test yet, can Rajasthan fight back against Super Kings?

The Rajasthan Royals have had a tough time in the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League 2021. In fact, they have lost three of the four games that they have played and the one which they won also was almost a lost cause, saved by the brilliance of Kartik Tyagi. When they came to UAE, they still had some chance of qualification, but now those hopes are draining down the road. With almost nothing to lose, Sanju Samson, the only man in form for the Royals could actually fuel his troops to go for one last dance before the mega auctions next year. The Royals definitely have the talent, it is about the execution that they are lacking. A team with Tabraiz Shamsi, Evin Lewis, Liam Livingstone and Mustafizur Rahman in their kitty playing in UAE is like a dream combination. And if even after this, they are unable to win, then there is seriously something wrong in the execution. One thing that Rajasthan need to do is get rid of non-performing players, especially Rahul Tewatia, Riyan Parag and Chris Morris. They need to have players who aren’t coming with baggage and allow them to express themselves without thinking about the consequences anymore. Because RR hardly have anything to worry about the consequences. The other team in the reckoning, Chennai Super Kings have already qualified for the Playoffs and if anything they would be looking to rest at least a few players for their next three games. But that does not mean that they wouldn’t be looking to win the game, because in IPL every match counts and finishing in the top two is as important as anything else. Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings: Details Match number: 47 Date and Time: October 02, 2021, 07:30 pm IST (10:00 GMT), 06:00 pm Local, 02:00 pm GMT Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi Broadcast and Livestream: Star Sports and Hotstar Pitch Report The pitches throughout UAE haven’t really been supportive of batting as it was the last time around in 2020. The squares have dried up with a lot of cricket having been already played. Thus in this game also, any score around and above 150-160 would be par and the team defending should look to make it as tough as possible for the team chasing. Weather Forecast The temperatures would be in the mid-thirties and humidity would keep on increasing as the match progresses. There might be dew later on and thus, any team winning the toss would look to bowl first. Team News Rajasthan Royals Rajasthan would look to bring in Shreyas Gopal in place of Tewatia. Even Shivam Dube can be tested in place of Parag so that two fresh players come in with a fresh approach and try and win the game. It is mostly about now testing the players. Tabraiz Shamsi most definitely gets a game and if the team is looking to replace Livingstone, Glenn Philipps is not a bad option either. Probable XI Evin Lewis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Liam Livingstone/ Glenn Phillips, Mahipal Lomror, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Chetan Sakariya, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kartik Tyagi, Mustafizur Rahman Chennai Super Kings On the other hand, Super Kings, who don’t really believe in changing the playing XI much, would look to rest Dwayne Bravo and Josh Hazlewood before the Playoffs so they remain fresh. Sam Curran and Lungi Ngidi could be given a go at their place. Probable XI Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Moeen Ali, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi CE XI Fantasy team Wicketkeepers Sanju Samson Batters Ruturaj Gaikwad, Faf du Plessis, Ambati Rayudu, Yashasvi Jaiswal All-rounders Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja Bowlers Shardul Thakur, Kartik Tyagi, Mustafizur Rahman, Tabraiz Shamsi Vice-Captain Sanju Samson Captain Ruturaj Gaikwad