Q. It’s a topsy-turvy situation on the eve of what could potentially be the last match of the season for you. So, is there any tension?
A. I try to keep things quite simple and focus on controlling the controllables. Often, when you come to this stage of the tournament, you think about the fact that if things are meant to be, they will happen. The important thing for us is that we have a game tomorrow, and the preparation we need to have to play a game of cricket. Whenever you are representing a franchise, whenever you are playing in the IPL, that preparation remains the same. The consequences are out of our control. What we can control is walking out tomorrow and playing the best cricket we can. So, more than nervousness, I think the focus is on preparation and playing good cricket tomorrow.
Q. Firstly, will you be following Punjab and Rajasthan’s matches? Secondly, what has been the biggest reason for this turnaround? What clicked for KKR after that?
A. To answer your first question, I try to watch every game in the IPL. You want to watch all teams and understand what they are doing because, as they say, it becomes part of your routine during these two months. As for the turnaround, I would put it down to consistency. I often talk about adversity, and when you are in difficult situations, the one thing a leadership group can do is remain consistent with the players. The messaging did not change much. The trust in the players did not change. The way we looked at our players did not change. When everything around you starts to feel like it is crumbling, you have to stay strong and stick to your core values as a team and as individuals. Sometimes, it takes time for people to understand their roles and what the team is trying to achieve. We talk about momentum being key in team sport, and once that momentum starts to build, belief starts to grow too. I think the hardest thing in the IPL is to remain consistent as an individual amid all the noise around you. As a group, we have tried to do exactly that.
Q. Angkrish is ruled out of the tournament and he is KKR’s highest scorer this season. How big of a setback is this for the team? And how are you planning to fill the void?
A. From the start of the season, setbacks are something we have become used to. It has been that kind of season, with some unfortunate injuries. He has been such an integral part of the side, not only with the bat but also as a wicketkeeper behind the stumps. We have not spoken much about it because that is how good he has been, but it is a difficult spot to fill. You cannot simply replace someone like that. However, we have players like Manish Pandey, who stepped up and did his job at number three. Similarly, this becomes an opportunity for someone else to step up. It is an opportunity for one of our young wicketkeepers to come in and do something special. I feel this tournament is all about opportunities.
Q. What has been the level of commitment that Varun has shown for the team?
A. I do not think my words will do justice to it. For him to go through injury, endure a difficult start to the season, and then come back into form is a testament to how strong he is as a character. He has already broken quite a few bones during this tournament, specifically two fingers and now his toe. I always say the toughest characters learn to overcome pain and adversity, and that is exactly what Varun is. He is someone who is highly motivated and feels very deeply for the franchise too. He has been an integral part of the team, and I think he understands that. He is very emotional when it comes to this team and everyone associated with it. That is the thought process behind him wanting to continue rather than forcing himself to do so. Sometimes players are not keen to push through, but he has been very keen because of the love he has for the city and the franchise.
Q. In the last match, we saw that the pitch was really tricky and both teams made the mistake of playing a lot of lofted shots. So, what lessons did you learn from that match? Are you expecting a similar kind of wicket?
A. If I could predict the weather, I would definitely predict the pitch as well. I think the weather plays a huge role in how the pitch behaves. Before the end of the last game, there was a lot of rain, which obviously changed the dynamics of the surface. The dampness in the pitch is not something you usually associate with the IPL. Unfortunately, after the practice session last time around, it rained, and it also rained on the day of the game. So yes, you study those conditions. At the same time, this format is such that there are always going to be moments when you take risks. Sometimes those risks pay off. Those lofted shots also helped us. For example, Rovman Powell’s first-ball six shifted the momentum in our favour. That being said, every player will reflect and see what he could have done better. But honestly, I thought we played very good cricket against a strong opposition and a top-quality bowling attack in difficult conditions. Even after losing Angkrish Raghuvanshi from the batting line-up, we still managed to regain our footing and do what was required.More than lessons, I think we took a lot of positives from that game and will try to carry them forward.
Q. We have spoken about the other team, Delhi. We beat them in the last match, but they also, like Mumbai, have players who can really change the complexion of the game. Starc is there, Ngidi too, along with the batting line-up. So how do you look at DC as an opponent?
A. Any opponent in the IPL is a strong opponent. All teams are beautifully balanced. They have the best players in the world, the best Indian players, and young cricketers eager to make a name for themselves. So, there is no team in this format, especially in the IPL, that you can say is not strong. Every team is dangerous. Every team wants to perform at the highest level. The individuals you mentioned will always want to produce something special in every game. As I said, our approach has remained very consistent and we want to continue with that. We assess the opposition and try to understand them, but eventually, on the day, the team that plays better cricket usually wins. That is what we are trying to do. At the same time, respecting the opposition and the talent they possess is something we will always do and have always done.
Q. What has been your impression of Saurabh Dubey? And should he have played earlier?
A. I think Saurabh has been tremendous. When he first came into our set-up, he was not originally part of the squad. I saw him bowl in the D.Y. Patil tournament and he had a very good competition. He has not played a lot of domestic cricket this season, so when we decided to take a chance on him, all the coaches felt he was bowling really well. I think every player has a time and place for when he enters the tournament. Sometimes, for someone who has not played much domestic cricket or experienced the IPL extensively, it helps to observe enough before stepping into the competition. I have always believed destiny plays a huge role in such situations. There will always be ifs and buts, but I feel Vaibhav had done a tremendous job for us until then. He won us a lot of games and bowled crucial overs. The way we viewed Saurabh was more as a new-ball bowler, while Vaibhav was more of an all-phase bowler. So, I think the timing was perfect, as it often is when things are meant to happen. Saurabh has been tremendous for us. He has shown a lot of maturity and bowled some very critical overs during the tournament. He should be very proud of what he has done, and everyone in the franchise is extremely proud of him as well.
Q. You are in a must-win situation. Any words of inspiration from team owner Shah Rukh Khan ahead of this match?
A. Well, the match is tomorrow, so any words of inspiration will probably come after I am done with this press conference. But as a franchise, we have always placed a lot of emphasis on the support staff looking after the team. The encouragement is always there from the management and the ownership, and the support is always unconditional.
Q. It has been a topsy-turvy tournament. At the start, everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. But one thing we have noticed from the leadership group is a lot of calmness and consistency. Can you explain the journey from being out of contention to reaching six and seven victories?
A. I think the collective experience of everyone involved in the IPL has helped. Everyone in the support group, including Ajinkya, has at some point been part of teams that failed or were unsuccessful. Over time, you realise how difficult it is for a young cricketer to exist in an environment where he is constantly being questioned. I said this somewhere earlier as well, the journey of a cricketer is often underestimated. Not only because of what is said publicly, but also because of what they hear from family, personal coaches, and friends. There is always someone telling them what they should be doing differently. What we tried to do was create a bubble around them, where they never felt that we were disappointed in them or that they were failing to meet our expectations. When you speak about calmness, for me it was more about creating security, an environment where a player felt that regardless of the outcome, the pride we felt on day one remained unchanged. Being consistent as individuals, being consistent in conversations, even something as small as smiling at a player, those things matter immensely. I think people do not realise how much a smile on a bad day, or simply asking someone if they are okay, can mean to a cricketer. We tried to focus on the small things. You would have seen the team room buzzing all the time. We made sure people stayed together, did not isolate themselves, and that groups were not formed. Maintaining that atmosphere, keeping it sacred and pure is probably one of the hardest things to do in the IPL. With the support of the management, the support staff, Venky sir and Ajinkya, I felt we were able to hold our ground and keep the group together. That created a secure environment where everyone could be themselves because this tournament can really take a toll on players. I think that has been our biggest strength. Yes, things have gone our way at times, but regardless of the results, I believe the core responsibility of a support group and a coach is to maintain the quality of the environment and ensure players always want to come back and be part of the franchise. That sense of belonging matters. I think that is something we can hold our heads high about, irrespective of the outcome.
Q. If Rajasthan wins tomorrow, your last match will effectively have no value. In that situation, what will be your approach?
A. There is always value. Imagine a player scoring a hundred tomorrow. Every game of cricket has value. Everything matters, every number, every victory. You have to understand that everyone who buys a ticket and comes to watch the game tomorrow is coming to watch Kolkata Knight Riders. Every win brings happiness to the city, and the players understand that very well. Our fans care deeply about the franchise. So, it does not matter whether it is a dead rubber or not. The mindset will remain the same, to play the best cricket we can. Every individual in the team is not only representing the franchise but also representing himself. Everyone wants to leave an impression. The attitude will remain unchanged, regardless of the result.
