NEW DELHI: Young pacer Harshit Rana attributed Kolkata Knight Riders' surge to the top of the IPL points table to the winning blueprint laid down by former captain Gautam Gambhir, now serving as the team's mentor. Gambhir's strategic insights, derived from his successful tenure as KKR skipper, have revitalized the franchise's performance, leading them to reclaim their dominant form in the tournament.
Under Gambhir's leadership, KKR clinched the IPL title twice and secured playoff berths on five occasions between 2011 and 2017. Rana acknowledged Gambhir's profound understanding of the game, stating, "He has a lot of knowledge on how to turn games in our favor, and it helps us a lot in the middle."
Rana emphasized the team's adherence to Gambhir's preferred style of cricket, which focuses on strategic discipline and adaptability.
"Not only this match, this entire season we have been focusing a lot on the style of cricket that Gautam Gambhir wants us to play," Rana remarked during a press conference following KKR's commanding victory over Lucknow Super Giants.
In the latest triumph, KKR showcased their astute reading of the conditions, with Rana playing a pivotal role in restricting the opposition with figures of 3/24. Despite concerns over Mitchell Starc's economy rate, Rana expressed unwavering faith in the Australian speedster, highlighting his influential presence within the team.
1/8:Sunil Narine shines as Kolkata Knight Riders down Lucknow Super Giants
<p>Sunil Narine shines as Kolkata Knight Riders down Lucknow Super Giants</p>AFP
2/8:Sunil Narine Shines
<p>Red-hot Sunil Narine's explosive 81 off 39 balls propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant victory over Lucknow Super Giants.</p>AFP
3/8:Formidable total
<p>Narine's onslaught, comprising six fours and seven sixes, drove Kolkata to a formidable total of 235-6, setting the stage for a commanding win.</p>AFP
4/8:Lucknow beaten in Lucknow
<p>KKR decimated Lucknow Super Giants, bowling them out for 137 in just 16.1 overs to secure their eighth win in 11 matches.</p>AFP
5/8:KKR on top
<p>With the top four teams advancing to the playoffs, Kolkata's triumph places them in prime contention for a playoff berth in the IPL</p>AFP
6/8:Phil Salt plays his part
<p>Narine's stellar form as an opener continued as he spearheads Kolkata's batting with a blazing 61-run partnership alongside Phil Salt.</p>AFP
7/8:Naveen-ul-Haq
<p>Lucknow's Naveen-ul-Haq posed a threat with three wickets, but Shreyas Iyer and Ramandeep Singh salvaged some pride for the home team.</p>AFP
8/8:Bowlers' show
<p>Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana led with the ball for Kolkata, while Marcus Stoinis' efforts fell short in Kolkata's win against Lucknow.</p>AFPReflecting on his aspirations, Rana expressed his ambition to represent India while maintaining a steadfast focus on delivering consistent performances for his franchise. "My aim is to play for India, but whatever franchise I play for, I try to give my best on the day of the match," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants' Naveen Ul Haq conceded defeat against the brilliance of Sunil Narine's explosive innings, which propelled KKR to a daunting total. Naveen acknowledged Narine's exceptional batting display, lamenting the failure of their bowling plans to contain the West Indian all-rounder.
Despite the setback, Naveen remained pragmatic, acknowledging the need to regroup and refocus for their upcoming fixtures. "Every team has a bad day, and we cannot keep focusing on that, we have to move on," he concluded, echoing the sentiment of resilience required in the demanding landscape of the IPL.
(With inputs from PTI)
