NEW DELHI: With the midway mark of IPL 2018 having rolled over, the race for playoffs spots seems, in the interim, to be moderately straightforward. Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, unarguably the two perfect groups this season, both have 12 issues and 4 extra to each will confirm their place within the playoffs. At 3rd at the IPL 2018 issues desk are Kings XI Punjab with 10 issues, they usually too appear set to make it previous the league level.
ALSO READ: Rampaging CSK glance to destroy KKR's homecoming
That leaves two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders, who have 4 wins and 4 losses to sit down at fourth place, to win a minimum of 4 of their ultimate six matches to stay forward of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals (six issues) each, and close the door on defending champions Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils. According to KKR trainer Jacques Kallis, the franchise is pushing for a top-two end.
ALSO READ - IPL 2018: Big bucks, small returns
KKR's closing recreation was once a six-wicket win over RCB on Sunday, and as they return to action lately in opposition to table-toppers CSK, Kallis was once confident of gaining ground at the IPL leaderboard.
"It is always a huge game against Chennai. MS [Dhoni] has been grabbing the headlines on a regular basis but the team is so much more than him. A top-two finish is still our priority but the old cliché is truer than ever - one game at a time. But there is no need to keep anything in the tank now - it's time to start pushing with everything we have," he wrote in his Times of India column.
"Naturally, every team prefers to have a healthy win/lose ratio but I'm not too unhappy with a 4:4 record at this stage of the tournament. I regard it as a solid platform from which we can push for a top-two finish. On many occasions I have been part of KKR teams which have won four, five or even six consecutive games, so we all know it is possible - and I have no doubt that this squad is capable of doing exactly that."
KKR had been hit via injuries to Mitchell Starc and Kamlesh Nagarkoti, however Kallis saw that as a part of the sport and not an excuse.
"We have injury concerns but so do most other teams. The moment you start regretting the loss of players, or start making excuses, is the moment you run the risk of losing the plot. Everybody has to get on with it - injuries are a test of the contingency plans you have put in place," he wrote. "I have said it many times before, but the intensity of the IPL and the pressure it places on players and their support staff is just as much of a challenge as taking wickets and scoring runs. If you complain then you have failed the challenge."
ALSO READ: Rampaging CSK glance to destroy KKR's homecoming
That leaves two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders, who have 4 wins and 4 losses to sit down at fourth place, to win a minimum of 4 of their ultimate six matches to stay forward of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals (six issues) each, and close the door on defending champions Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils. According to KKR trainer Jacques Kallis, the franchise is pushing for a top-two end.
ALSO READ - IPL 2018: Big bucks, small returns
KKR's closing recreation was once a six-wicket win over RCB on Sunday, and as they return to action lately in opposition to table-toppers CSK, Kallis was once confident of gaining ground at the IPL leaderboard.
"It is always a huge game against Chennai. MS [Dhoni] has been grabbing the headlines on a regular basis but the team is so much more than him. A top-two finish is still our priority but the old cliché is truer than ever - one game at a time. But there is no need to keep anything in the tank now - it's time to start pushing with everything we have," he wrote in his Times of India column.
"Naturally, every team prefers to have a healthy win/lose ratio but I'm not too unhappy with a 4:4 record at this stage of the tournament. I regard it as a solid platform from which we can push for a top-two finish. On many occasions I have been part of KKR teams which have won four, five or even six consecutive games, so we all know it is possible - and I have no doubt that this squad is capable of doing exactly that."
KKR had been hit via injuries to Mitchell Starc and Kamlesh Nagarkoti, however Kallis saw that as a part of the sport and not an excuse.
"We have injury concerns but so do most other teams. The moment you start regretting the loss of players, or start making excuses, is the moment you run the risk of losing the plot. Everybody has to get on with it - injuries are a test of the contingency plans you have put in place," he wrote. "I have said it many times before, but the intensity of the IPL and the pressure it places on players and their support staff is just as much of a challenge as taking wickets and scoring runs. If you complain then you have failed the challenge."
Kallis backs Kolkata Knight Riders for top-two finish
![Kallis backs Kolkata Knight Riders for top-two finish]()
Reviewed by Kailash
on
May 03, 2018
Rating:
