IPL 2022, MI vs KKR: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Shreyas Iyer said it was not easy to tell players they would be dropped after making five changes to the playing XI against Mumbai Indians. However, Shreyas was a happy captain after his team stormed to victory by 52 runs on Monday.
Shreayas Iyer failed with the bat but led KKR to a convincing win over MI (Courtesy of BCCI/PTI)
HIGHLIGHTS
- KKR captain Shreyas Iyer said he was happy after a huge victory for his team over Mumbai Indians
- KKR made five changes to their playing XI and Shreyas admitted it wasn’t easy to drop players
- Shreyas Iyer said every KKR played was determined to win vs MI on Monday
Kolkata Knight Riders made as many as five changes to their playing XI against Mumbai Indians and skipper Shreyas Iyer admitted it is not easy telling players that they would not play.
On Monday, Shreyas needed to tell five players they would not be needed in a crunch game but at the end of the night, the team had two important points to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.
“It is really difficult (to tell players they won’t play). Coach and at times, CEO is also obviously involved in team selections,” Shreyas Iyer told Star Sports.
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“Each and every player takes it well, and they have put in their best efforts. The win was comprehensive, and when I spoke to the players, they were pumped up to win the game today,” he said.
On Monday, KKR made five changes and two of them delivered. Venkatesh Iyer scored a quick 43 at the top while Pat Cummins broke the back of the MI batting line-up with a 3-wicket over.
Kolkata Knight Riders moved up to No.7 on the IPL 2022 points table with 10 points from 12 matches. For now, KKR are still in the hunt for the playoffs but in an increasingly closely competed tournament, KKR can only finish with 14 points and their net run rate is still not the greatest at -0.057.
As it stands, KKR are just one defeat away from certain elimination in the hunt for the playoffs and they still have certain flaws to iron out.
Shreyas Iyer said he was pleased with the massive win but conceded he was not totally satisfied with the way things are for KKR at the moment. Runners-up in 2021, KKR have been hugely inconsistent this season.
“I am very pleased because after losing the last game by a big margin, feels good to come back and win by a big margin is nice. We had a nice start in the powerplay and Venky targeted bowlers well. I personally felt that it wasn’t ‘t easy to start for a new batter.
When we went into the bowl, the plan was to hit the right areas and not give room. I’m not (entirely) satisfied but want to maintain this,” Shreyas said.
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