KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir praises Brett Lee, Sunil Narine for win over Delhi
Praising Caribbean spinner Sunil Narine, an ecstatic Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir gave credit to his bowlers for holding the Delhi Daredevils to a below-par score that helped his team start the Indian Premier League on a winning note.
“It is always great to start the tournament on a winning note and for the first time in two years we have points on the table straight away. We don’t want to be in a position where you are desperate for points. It is a good start and I am happy with the performance,” said Gambhir after the Knight Riders coasted to an emphatic six-wicket victory at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday night.
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Brett Lee congratulates Sunil Narine after beating Delhi Daredevils at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday
“The credit goes to the bowlers for restricting them to 128 which was a fantastic effort. Not only Sunil Narine but all bowlers including (Laxmipathy) Balaji, Binga (Brett Lee) and Rajat (Bhatia) all bowled superbly to put us in a winning position,” said Gambhir.
The left-hander had special praise for man of the match Sunil Narine who took four wickets — one in each of his overs — to wreck the Daredevils. He finished with impressive figures of 4-13.
“What is important is how you finish and it was important that we keep Sunil for the last over. The last over is always crucial because it can allow you to get the momentum in your favour. We always wanted Sunil to bowl the last over, we had done this in the last edition as well,” he said.
More loyal than Delhi
About his decision to bowl first on winning the toss, Gambhir said: “When you are not aware about the nature of the wicket it is always better to send the opponent to bat first.” On the support from KKR fans, Gambhir said: “I’ve played for three years in Delhi but I think they were not as loyal as Kolkata is for KKR.”
Man of the Match Narine said the track offered more spin than last year. “It assists the spinners a lot. Everyone played their part. Little more turn and bounce than last year,” he said.
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