XtraTime Web Desk: Kolkata Knight Riders coach Jacques Kallis on Thursday said that the sudden drop in form for Kuldeep Yadav won’t affect him in the World Cup which starts later this month in England. The chinaman bowler has managed to pick only 4 wickets in this edition of Indian Premier League (IPL 2019).
“The wicket we played on at Eden Gardens hasn’t spun at all and so it was quite tough for the spinners. So, it has been a tough year for Kuldeep. He will learn from that and you got to understand that fifty over cricket is very different from this format. I don’t think it will affect him. He is working hard at the nets and seems to be getting right again. He shall be fine for the World Cup,” said Kallis ahead of Kolkata Knight Rider’s clash against Kings XI Punjab at Mohali.
The Knight Riders need to win both their next two matches to give them an outside chance of qualifying for the playoffs. Both Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab have 10 points each from 12 matches. So, whoever loses the match will be virtually out of contention for the playoffs.
“Definitely we are very much in contention to make the playoffs. We are only worried about what we can do and that is to win our next two games. We are not worried about the results of other games where we do not have any control. We are prepared very well after the break we had after the last two games. Boys are fresh and raring to go,” said the KKR coach.
The Purple Army had an emphatic win over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens in their last match. On being asked what their approach will be against Kings for Friday’s clash, the Knight Riders coach said, “Our approach certainly isn’t going to change after what we did in the last game. We made some mistakes at crucial moments in our last few games and that cost us. Hopefully, we can recognize those problems and play them better in the middle period. Last game we played I thought was very good. We need that same kind of intent and intensity right from the team and individuals as well.”