JOIN USWhen we left Kolkata after the Delhi game, we were very well-placed, having ten points under our belt from as many games. In order to see ourselves in the top-order and vye for a place in the semifinals, we needed to win at least one out of the two matches away from home. If any team desires for a top-of-the-order existence in a tournament, it has to come through in the crunch games. That didn’t happen with us.
We definitely had our opportunities. In the Bangalore match, we had wanted to bat first and surprisingly got the oppurtunity even after losing the toss. We put runs on the board in the first ten overs and fizzled out from there on. In Chennai also, we batted first but didn’t make the best use of it.
It was the best available batting line-up for us, with the likes of Chris Gayle , Brendon McCullum, David Hussey and myself batting in the top half and Manoj Tiwary and Angelo Mathews holding on to the middle-order.
But we were done in early by a few wickets tumbling very cheaply and a debatable umpiring decision, leaving no room for recovery to post a formidable total on a pitch where anything in excess of 150 could have set up an exciting finish.
The tournament is springing surprises everyday and a few games have produced results to keep us alive, maybe with a remote chance. But we need to survive on our own, look at our cause, win matches with our ability and keep the tournament alive for ourselves. We didn’t fire and it is indeed frustrating the way we threw away our chances.
We can be fearless in our last two outings, play to the best of our ability and not really bother about where the wins in these two matches will take us. It is indeed painful to find ourselves in the current situation, especially after all the hard work that was put in this year, with the hope of a fruitful finish.
It is no point in trying to be a cry-baby, because one will always be judged by one’s action on the ground. We should try to find some solace for our millions of fans by winning the last two matches at home. At least, they will realise that Kolkata Knight Riders was a team which had the potential of a podium finish but just didn’t make it.
As a captain, though, it shall be no consolation for me at all.
Professional Management Group