Gautam Gambhir's Moment of Reckoning

 While all eyes are on Virender Sehwag, who will be playing in his 100th Test, and Sachin Tendulkar, who will probably be featuring in his last Test on home soil, one man will be happy to have the focus off him: Gautham Gembir

The southpaw averages a disappointing 27.76 in his last 22 Tests and has scored just eight fifties. A battling 93 against South Africa at Cape Town is the closest the Indian opener has come to three figures.

With the selectors set to announce the squad for the remaining two Tests in Kolkata and Nagpur, and players like Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahanebreathing down his neck, the unusually long rope that he has been offered is fast threatening to become a noose. Gambhir knows that he has to deliver and what better venue for a second coming than the Wankhede, where he made his Test debut against Australia in the winter of 2004.

That game, played on a sand paper of a pitch, ended in just over two days and Gambhir fell to single-digit scores in both innings. But a 96 in Kanpur, against South Africa in his next Test, helped him get established. The tour of Bangladesh that followed saw him getting his first hundred (139) in Chittagong. Indifferent form against Pakistan and Sri Lanka at home, where he repeatedly fell lbw or bowled after falling over onto the leg side, saw him banished from the Test squad for almost two years.

All this while he kept scoring runs in domestic cricket and despite good performances in ODIs and T20s, he was desperate to make a Test comeback. His moment of reckoning came in the Ranji final against Uttar Pradesh at, where else but the Wankhede.

Leading Delhi, he was out for a blob to Praveen Kumar in the first innings as his side conceded a first-innings lead of 52 to UP. With chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar watching, everyone thought Gambhir had blown his chance again. But thanks to Pradeep Sangwan's five-wicket haul, Delhi were given a second lease of life and UP were bowled out for 177 and set Delhi 230 to win.

On a tricky wicket, Gambhir took the bull by the horns and smashed an unbeaten 130 off 154 balls to help Delhi bag the title and win Vengsarkar's confidence as he slotted him in for the Tri-series Down Under in which he scored two hundreds.

He hasn't looked back since.

Wankhede is also the venue where he soaked in the pressure like a sponge and slammed a brilliant and determined 97 in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka. His knock and the 109-run partnership with skipper MS Dhoni, after India had lost Sehwag (0) and Tendulkar (18) with the total on 31 in a tough chase of 275, were instrumental in India emerging champions.

Now with his career at the crossroads, Gambhir is back on the ground that launched him into the spotlight. Will it also help in his reincarnation as a Test batsman?

WE ARE CHAMPIONS......KKR CELBRATING THEIR VICTORY....

I play to win, not to compete: Gambhir

The IPL 2012 final is all set to be a battle between the seasoned big-game pros and the eager first-timers. The Kolkata Knight Riders will walk out as equals for the first time in the biggest match of the IPL calendar. KKR is a team moulded in the reflection of its skipper, Gautam Gambhir. The southpaw has not only led from the front with the bat, but has also ensured that the team stays united through thick and thin.

Awaiting the franchise’s biggest test till date, Gambhir is keen to prove his side’s mettle in the crunch encounter on Sunday. The KKR skipper minced no words in the pre-match captains’ press conference where he emphasised the need to play with aggression in order to topple the mightyChennai Supeer Kings.

Excerpts from Gautam Gambhir’s pre-match press conference.

On the contrast between his on and off-field demeanour.

I don’t know what the real Gaum Gambhir is like. When you go out on the field, you don’t go out to make friends. You go out to get results for your teams. And for that if I have to be aggressive on the field [so be it]. That’s what I play cricket for; I play to win the game and not just to compete. So, on the field if I have to be aggressive at times, I have to be. If I can rub that energy off on the other 10 players, and I have always maintained that it’s the 11 players that make a successful captain. A successful captain doesn’t make a successful team. So, I have never undermined my role as a captain and I’ve always believed that it’s the 11 players that win you the game of cricket. Individuals can only contribute and they are picked to contribute. Tomorrow, if I get picked for a certain team, that is my responsibility to score runs. I am not doing anybody a favour. I am going out there to do a job for myself.

On playing a formidable CSK side in Chennai.

No doubt they are playing in their own backyard and they’ve been two-time winners, so they know how to play the finals. This is our first final, but you always believe that you go into a big game like this you start at 50-50. Especially in a T20 game when you go out on the field, there is no time to make comebacks; you always have to be on your toes. I’ve always maintained that Chennai is a very good side, especially in their own backyard. Their record speaks for them. So, we need to be up for it and we need to be more than 100 percent tomorrow to try and play some good cricket. And I’ve always believed that results are not in your favour, the only thing that’s in your favour is to go out there and give your 100 percent. If we play to our potential, definitely we’ll be having a good game tomorrow.

On the focus being on the Super Kings making it a hat-trick of IPL titles, ahead of the final.

They won twice in a row [IPL titles], so obviously the talk has to be around them. But I’ve always maintained that it’s good to go into the game with a low profile. In such games there are no favourites, there are no underdogs. To me, everyone in a big game starts at 50-50; whoever plays well on that day takes the cake. Chennai is a very good side and whatever talks are happening about them, they deserve every bit of it. At the same time, we’ve played some good cricket and we’ve got a lot of quality; not only this year. The way we’ve played in the last two years, we deserve every bit of it [success].

On what the fans mean to the team.

Whenever we’ve walked on to the field, we don’t go out to play for individuals. We’ve always wanted to give some joy back to the Kolkata people. I think they’ve given us fantastic support even in the first three years when things were not going our way. So, when we walk out on the field tomorrow, I can promise all the KKR fans that we’ll go out there and give our 100 percent. KKR is not about one or two heroes, it’s about the people who have supported us back home. 

Dhoni and Gambhir inspire differently

The road to glory is often arduous, and the path towards the IPL title is certainly one that requires a lot of character and temperance. Sport has no definite formula for success; as a result, the IPL 2012 final also presents an opportunity to witness two contrasting captaincy styles of the leaders of the two finalists. MS Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir might have played and won a lot together, but come Sunday, they’ll be trying to outfox each other with their own brand of leadership.

The Super Kings have been there and done that by peaking at the right time and carrying on that momentum all the way till winning the trophy. Meanwhile, the Knight Riders are making their first appearance in an IPL final thanks to Gambhir’s ability to get his players firing in unison.

“Gautam is an aggressive captain – a bit different from me. I am aggressive as well, but I’m not very expressive on the field and that has been the strength of CSK. Gautam, on the other hand, is very expressive,” Dhoni said as he emphasised how he’s different from the KKR skipper.

“Even if the game is in his pocket, he is still on his toes, demanding that his players keep up the momentum and wrap the game up convincingly. That is his strength as a leader and he’s done really well with KKR,” he added.

The goal of both teams remains the same but the method chosen for achieving victory varies. KKR follow their skipper’s mantra of one for all and all for one, while CSK leave more room for individual brilliance; for example, Murali Vijay’s electrifying knock in Qualifier 2 against the Delhi Daredevils.

“KKR is not about one or two heroes, it’s about the people who have supported us back home,” Gambhir emphasised ahead of Sunday’s final.
Dhoni, on the other hand, put the onus on one of the 22 players to etch his name in their team’s folklore. “It’s another opportunity for someone to be a hero – that’s how I look at it. Tomorrow somebody, either from our side or KKR will be a hero,” he said.

All in all, the final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium promises to be a fascinating encounter with a battle of cricketing philosophies awaiting fans worldwide. 

KKR won't just go out there to compete, says skipper Gambhir

CHENNAI: Gautam Gambhir's dazzling form and the aggressive streak in his captaincy has helped KKR make it to their maiden IPL final and the skipper warned his opposition on the eve of the final that he and his wards won't be there "to just compete but to get results."

"When you go on to the field, you do not go there to make friends but you are there to get results in your team's favour. You have to be aggressive on the field. That is how we have won matches and now we are in the final and not to just compete," the aggressive Delhi lad told the mediapersons during the pre-match conference, here today.

Asked about his aggressive nature, the southpaw says that it works for him.

"If I have to be aggressive on the field, I have to grab that energy. The other thing is that the 11 people make a successful captain. So, I have undermined my role as a captain. I always believe individuals should contribute to the team's cause. They are bound perform and they are picked to contribute."

Beating Chennai Super Kings in their own backyard is an onerous task and Gambhir believes that his boys are up for the challenge.

"No doubt that they are playing in their own backyard. They are two-time winners and they know how to play in the final. I always believed that in a big game like, it's a 50-50 case at the start. We have to be on our toes. We need to give more than hundred percent tomorrow.

"I think we play very good cricket and there is lot of quality attached to our game. Not only this year but people were talking about our team last year too and just one bad game and we finished fourth. Hopefully, we can play some good cricket and see where the result goes."

For Gambhir, the support they have received from general Kolkata public has been fantastic and it's time that KKR win it for their fans.

"You do not walk on to the field to play as an individual and we play for the Kolkata people, who have been fantastic support to our team. They have supported us even when things were not going in our way," Gambhir said.

"When we onto the pitch tomorrow, we will give our hundred per cent and KKR is not one or two individuals but it is about millions back home who have been supporting us. They supported us in all our bad times. They have always been praying for us. When we walked tomorrow, there will be no shortage of our effort and hopefully we can try and win the title and give them the joy. Kolkata after all is always known as a city of Joy," he concluded.

Narine's action makes him difficult to read: Dhoni

CHENNAI: Chennai Super Kings skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Saturay said that Sunil Narine is a difficult customer to read and added that he is well aware of the threat the mystery spinner could pose when they meet Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League final on Sunday.

"With his action, it is difficult to catch him as to which side he is bowling whether it is the one that comes in to a right hander or it goes out," Dhoni said on Saturday.

Narine has bamboozled batsmen with his trickery this season, and has been a key figure in KKR's march to the final of the tournament.

"The variation he has got and the consistency that he has got in maintaining line and length has been crucial. We have seen that consistency from a bowler has always paid dividends.

Dhoni felt the West Indian has got all the traits to be a successful bowler in this form of the game.

"If you have both consistency and line and length and got the variations, the bowler will be successful more often than not in this format since the batsmen look to take you on. That is the time, such bowlers try and get their wickets."

The India captain, who is aiming for a hat-trick of titles with CSK, lauded Murali Vijay's match-winning ton against Delhi Daredevils, but said he needed to train himself in a way through which he can express himself more on field.

"I advised him to go to the nets and express himself and if you do not bat the way you have been we will not back you. He responded very well. He took the few sessions in right stride and got back to his usual rhythm.

"Vijay is a very talented cricketer. When he started for us, he did not do really well and in between we gave him rest for quite a few games. We told him that we want Murali Vijay to bat and we do not want any other batsmen to start for us.

"The kind of cricket he has been playing for us, he has been successful. He has got the right talent that is needed to be successful at this level. He was not himself and it was our main concern."

According to Dhoni, KKR's Gautam Gambhir is an expressive captain.

"Gautam is very expressive on the field. Even when the match is in his pocket, he demands the individuals to perform and wrap the game in the best possible manner. That is where his strength lies. He has done really well with the Kolkata Knight Riders.

"Gautam is an aggressive captain, a bit different from me in the sense that if you see our side, we are aggressive but not expressive on the field. That has been the strength of Chennai super kings.

Talking further about captaincy, Dhoni said, "I think how good a captain you are depends on what resources you have and how individuals react to the scenario under pressure. There are few players who will react in different way and few will get bogged down.

"I think as a captain what is important is that he has to channelise the resources in the possible right direction for the desired result."

Dhoni said Sunday's final will be another opportunity for the players to leave their imprint.

"Well, it is another opportunity for someone to be a hero. That is what I look at. 11 guys are on the field and one of them from either side has the opportunity to raise his hand and be counted to be a hero. So, tomorrow somebody will be a hero from our side or Kolkata side and you can watch.

According to Dhoni, the outcome of the match will largely depend on how the individuals adapt to the conditions.

"Result is something you get depending on what you do in those 3-3-1/2 hours of play and how individuals adopt to the conditions. It will be about what kind of cricket you play on the field and the kind of potential you have got.

"That will be the key notes and it will be a high pressure scenario. Tomorrow being the final, there will be added pressure on each and every individual. How individuals react to the situations will be the key for success."

Dhoni said that it's important to use the resources in a way that doesn't require them to change their natural game.

"The emphasis is on the players going and enjoying the game and expressing themselves. It is important to use them in a way where they don't really need to change their natural game plan. They need to stick to what they know best and use the resources in the right way, at the right time.

"You know that has really worked for us. Individuals have also stepped up whenever we needed those couple of big performances in crucial games in the bowling or batting department. Overall, if you see our fielding has improved.

"Right from the first edition, we are constantly working on fielding. That department is very crucial. I can say cutting 5 to 10 runs in the format and in the last over it will have a big impact in the game. Now we are proud of the fact that we are a very good fielding side.

R Ashwin had said in Bangalore that was ready to go for a holiday before CSK roared back just in time to book a last-minute final berth, and told about that, Dhoni said he also felt alike when faced with a similar situation.

"That is exactly what I did also because in a key match there was a situation in Australia we could have moved to the finals but it did not work our way and a similar situation was there in the Asia Cup and it also did not go our way.

"Just sitting and watching it to go our way do not really help us. We try to enjoy each and every game. We had the similar mindset and it worked in our way and we opened our bags and reached Chennai from Bangalore.

Asked if there is any particular strategy for the final, he said it remains pretty much the same.

"The planning and strategy are the same. Whatever the reason may be, we could not execute our plans but in the playoff matches we have done quite well in all the three departments."

To sign off Dhoni said his wife hates to see CSK lose. "She wanted every result to go in our favour. She was the one who was eagerly watching the games. More often than not, she will turn her face away from the television because she could not watch it."

Sourav Ganguly tips KKR to win IPL 5

KOLKATA: Rating Gautam Gambhir ahead of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as far as captaincy is concerned, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly on Saturday put his money on Kolkata Knight Riders to win the fifth edition of the Indian Premier League.

The Indian selectors might have lost faith in Gambhir who was removed from vice-captaincy ahead of the Asia Cup, but Ganguly named the Delhi opener as the skipper to lead his best XI also featuring Dhoni.

"Gautam Gambhir is the best captain of the IPL. I really liked the way he supported his players. He persisted with Yusuf Pathan as he delivered his best performance (for KKR) in two years," Ganguly said, referring to the allrounder's 21-ball 40 in their win over Delhi in the first qualifier.

The Dhoni-led Super Kings who play their third final in as many years may be the favourites on paper but Ganguly put both the teams at par and hoped the Knight Riders would win their first title in five years.

"I want to wish both the teams. But I want to see a new champion. I think KKR would win this time," he said.

"Gambhir would be equally confident on the field. They (KKR) are a pretty balanced side and have been consistent this season. They have the players to win matches."

Ganguly however said Gambhir would not have to prove the selectors anything.

"I don't think he would play with a mindset that he would have to prove something. The way they have performed this season is enough to inspire themselves for the big day tomorrow," Ganguly said.

The Bengal icon however said the core CSK players could be "role models" for any side.

"They have stuck to their side for five years with players like Dhoni, Vijay, Badrinath being the core of the side all these time. They can be a role model for any T20 side."

"I've always said Dhoni is unparallel in the short versions, though there would always be a question mark on him when it comes to Test cricket," Ganguly said.

The veteran said toss would play a crucial role at the Chepauk and also key would be the way Dhoni's men tackle mystery spinner Sunil Narine.

"Toss would be vital. I'm sure (Gautam) Gambhir would hope to win the toss and set a target. The whole game would change if Gambhir wins the toss.

"But at the same time, Chennai's 50 per cent job would be done if they manage to tackle Narine.

Ganguly also did a post-mortem on the disastrous exit of Delhi Daredevils and held skipper Virender Sehwag responsible.

"He did the biggest mistake by inviting Chennai to bat after winning the toss. The decision of not playing spinners Shahbaz Nadeem and Roelof van der Merwe was also surprising," he said about Delhi's 86-run loss last night.

Ganguly further said that Sehwag blundered in Pune when he opted for just one spinner on the slow track as they lost to KKR who made their first final in five attempts.

"Delhi got completely wrong in their team combination in Pune. Even in my dream I cannot think of playing one spinner and four seamers on Pune track," Ganguly said.

"Sehwag is responsible for both KKR and CSK's passage into the final. I just failed to understand his decisions," Ganguly said.

Asked about his team's flop show as they finished with the wooden spoon, Ganguly, in a lighter vein, replied: "The trend in IPL has been the team that finishes last plays the final..."

"We did not bat well. Be it Ganguly or Clarke. We will have to start from zero next time. I'm yet to decide on my role in the team next year," he said without ruling himself out for the IPL-VI.

Ganguly's Best XI: Gautam Gambhir (c), Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cameron White, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Jacques Kallis, Sunil Narine, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Lasith Malinga; Stand-bye: Virender Sehwag; Coach: Stephen Fleming.

A billion prayers for men in purple.....!!!

Kolkata Knight Riders have reached the IPL finals for the first time. (TOI Photo)KOLKATA: Finally, it's celebration time in Kolkata, which has been waiting to see the home-team in the IPL finals for four years now.

Every nook and corner of the city is preparing for the Sunday finale with great zest and Team Kolkata fans are leaving no stone unturned to suitably cheer the purple brigade when they walk into the Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. 

"I wish the final was in Kolkata. Our team is in the finals for the first time since IPL began in 2008. I have been waiting for this dream to come true. My friends and I will wear the team jersey and head to a sports bar in the city to cheer for Kolkata," said Nakhat Agarwal, a 24-year-old trader from Tollygunge. 

Team Kolkata, which started off very well in the first season, got a lot of flak from the cricketing fraternity for its dwindling performance in the last three seasons. It came close to a final spot in IPL 4 where the team was among the top four. 

"Team Kolkata song 'Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re' has got its lost glory back. They used to tease the team as 'Korbo Lorbo Haarbo' earlier, but this is its time to give it back to the critics. I will watch the match with my family at home," said 13-year-old school student Timothy Joseph. Timothy is certain of Kolkata's win in the Sunday finale. 

"Team Kolkata has been doing well since the last IPL. They were in the top four last time. So, reaching the final has not been sudden. They deserve it since they have got a good team. What played an important role here was the IPL mega-auction in 2010 where the teams were re-shuffled. A few hiccups, but the team has really worked hard," said Jeet Bannerjee, MD and promoter of sports marketing agency Gameplan. Bannerjee will leave for Chennai on Saturday to watch the match. 

The malls and pubs in the city are also planning live screenings across the city for the Sunday final. Team Kolkata enthusiasts can watch the match at South City Mall on the giant screen at the Mall Atrium. City Centre, Salt Lake is also planning a live screening on the giant LED at the Kund area. 

To add to the fun and celebration, City Centre New Town has organised a 3D screening of the match at the mall's Spine Plaza. Live screenings have also been planned at The Conclave's Club's 'The Stallion' on AJC Bose Road and Afraa lounge at Salt Lake. At Afraa, four cheerleaders will be putting up a performance and there will be special offers on beer. 

"We have won because of the way we have played. Kolkata has been amazing. Touted as one of the best teams when the IPL started in 2008, it was about time that the team reached the final. I am still to decide where I will be watching the match," said Annesh Bilas Thakur, a 24-year-old film studies postgraduate from Behala. Annesh is sure that the team will fulfill everybody's expectations and rise above the controversies associated with the IPL. 

While the city is gearing up for the presentation, there are others who have already reached Chennai to cheer for the team. "Just 48 hours to go. Kolkata is in the finals for the first time and if they win, it will be a big mileage to Bengal cricket. We are hopeful of Kolkata's win," said Biswarup Dey, CAB secretary who reached Chennai on Friday. Many officials and sponsors from Kolkata will fly down to watch the final.

For KKR, it's the native knights that are shining

For the Kolkata Knight Riders, it is Debabrata Das and Laxmi Ratan Shukla, who have put their hands up this season when the chips were down. (AP Photo)

KNIGHTS IN ACTION.....

The Kolkata Knight Riders became the first team to enter the DLF IPL 2012 final after they beat the Delhi Daredevils at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium in Pune. Playing the first qualifier of the playoffs, the Knight Riders put up an all-round show to beat the Daredevils by 18 runs on the night.

KKR were in control for most of the match. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Gautam Gambhir and Brendon McCullum gave KKR a perfect start. Gambhir flayed the Delhi Daredevils pacers, particularly Varun Aaron, to add 48 for the first wicket, before he was run-out by a direct hit from Venugopal Rao. Gambhir made 32 off just 16 deliveries.

McCullum and Jacques Kallis then added 39 for the second wicket in a passage of play, which sawIrfan Pathan injure his right hand in the 10th over. The DD pacer failed to latch on to a catch off his own bowling, and cut his hand in the process, when Kallis hit the ball straight to him. Kallis, though, couldn’t make the most of the missed opportunity. After McCullum (31) was caught by David Warner in the 13th over off left-arm spinner Pawan Negi, KKR lost Shakib Al Hasan (1) and Kallis (30). At that point, the KKR score read 106 for four in 16 overs. 

Yusuf Pathan, who has come in for criticism for his mediocre form, then played the innings that, perhaps, repaid the faith that skipper Gambhir has shown in him right through the tournament. The hard-hitting batsman paired with Laxmi Ratan Shukla and pummeled the DD bowlers for 56 runs in 24 balls. That pushed KKR’s score up to 162 for four in 20 overs. Yusuf remained unbeaten on 40 (21 balls) while delivering a sequence of 6, 4 and 4 off the last three deliveries of the KKR innings. Shukla was not out on 24 (11 balls).

Needing 163 to win, DD lost both their openers before the third over had been completed. David Warner (7) was given out caught by Brendon McCullum off Shakib Al Hasan, while television replays suggested that the ball had come of Warner’s pads. Sehwag (10), on the other hand, was out caught by McCullum off L Balaji’s bowling to make it 24 for two in 2.1 overs. 

Naman Ojha and Mahela Jayawardene then kept Delhi in the contest with a 59-run stand for the third wicket. Jayawardene was the more aggressive of the two batsmen as he regularly cut and lofted the KKR spinners to the boundary to help DD keep up with the required-rate.

Ojha (28) eventually succumbed when he cut a delivery from Rajat Bhatia in the 11th over straight to Gautam Gambhir at point, with DD’s score at 83. However, the Daredevils’ chances of pulling off a win received a crushing blow when Jayawardene (40 off 33 balls) was stumped by McCullum off Iqbal Abdulla in the 15th over. 

With Shakib, Sunil Narine and Jacques Kallis bowling a tight line in the last few overs, DD batsmen struggled to keep up with the asking rate. Both Kallis and Narine took a couple of wickets each at the end to restrict DD to 144 for eight, and securing an 18-run win for KKR.

This is the first time KKR have reached an IPL final. Delhi still have another chance of qualifying for the final when they take on the winner of Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings in Chennai on May 25 in Qualifier 2. 

Scorecard

Man-of-the-match: Yusuf Pathan for his blazing knock of 40* off 21 balls, which helped KKR post a match-winning score of 162.

YUSUF PATHAN THE MAN TO FEAR

What can you say about Yusuf Pathan? Most fans and critics like to point out that he has a simple game plan – hit the ball as hard as you can. What they fail to see is that a lot of work goes into making things seem simple - just ask Jacques Kallis. Pathan has that rarely seen combination of power and precision that come together to form one of the deadliest hitters in the modern game. Yusuf has played match-winning knocks throughout his career, for club, state and country, turning lost causes into indelible memories. When he is in full flow, all the bowler’s plans go out the window. There is nowhere you can bowl to him and expect to be safe. A slight flick of the wrists is enough to send the ball out of the park and a mighty heave means you will probably never see that ball again.Besides his world beating batting, Pathan also contributes with the ball. His useful off-spinners are a deadly addition to his arsenal of skills and saw him pick up 13 wickets for KKR in IPL4 in addition to his 283 runs. He was our second most successful bowler last season in a team filled with bowling talent. Above all, it is the humble and selfless nature of this otherwise aggressive cricketer that has endeared him to the fans. He never forgets to say a kind word about his fellow teammates and mentors and thank them for their support and always seems grateful for the opportunities that have come his way.On his recent return to the India squad, Yusuf had this to say, "I was hopeful of getting selected and I am relieved. This call-up will help me improve my skills and consistency as there is a lot of limited overs cricket in the near future. I know I will have to keep performing to stay in the team." Yusuf Pathan never takes his success for granted.

THE RISING STARS OF KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS...

The Kolkata Knight Riders started IPL 4 with a team that consisted of many new players. While the world was looking forward to the exploits of established stars like Gautam Gambhir,  Jacques Kallis, Brett Lee and Yusuf Pathan, the KKR management clearly had one eye on the future. Among the luminaries were rising young stars like James Pattinson, Manoj Tiwary, Shakib Al Hasan, Ryan ten Doeschate, and KKR’s top bowler in IPL 4, Iqbal Abdulla.
Pattinson has since made his international debut for Australia and has made the world sit up and take notice of a bowler who seems set to take over the Aussie fast bowling mantle from another legendary Knight, Brett Lee. Tiwary has gone on to feature for India several times in the last year and has made the most of every opportunity to show his worth on the world stage, scoring a brilliant ODI century against the West Indies. Shakib is now universally regarded as one of the best modern all-rounders and one of the best cricketers to have come out of Bangladesh, all at the ripe young age of 24. Doeschate went to score two terrific centuries in the 2011 World Cup and continues to impress with his all-round ability every time he steps on to a pitch. Abdulla is also knocking down the doors of the Indian national team with consistent performances on the domestic circuit and it is only a matter of time before he is given his chance. Added to these youngsters is the domestic fast bowling contingent being prepared by the Knights that includes Jaidev Unadkat, Pradeep Sangwan and Shami Ahmed along with the experienced L Balaji, all gaining insights from the legendary ‘Sultan of Swing’ Wasim Akram, KKR’s mentor.
This season will also see the addition of Marchant de Lange, the South African quick regularly hitting speeds of 150+ kph and already striking fear into experienced international batsmen in his short international career. KKR also welcomes the wily young West Indian spinner, Sunil Narine, another scarcely known quantity who has been generating a lot of buzz in the domestic and international circuits.

MEET THE CAPTAIN -GAUTHAM GEMBIR

When the announcement of Gautam Gambhir’s arrival to KKR was made, all the fans sat up and took notice. Gauti, as he is fondly known, has built a reputation as one of the most aggressive and determined top-order batsmen in the modern game with the ability to produce crucial knocks required by his team in moments of despair. Gauti sealed his place in the hearts of cricket lovers everywhere with his World Cup final knock of 97 that helped India to bring home the trophy after 28 years. Yet, he remains the same Gauti we had always known – always determined to make that next important contribution.
A passionate cricketer and a thoughtful individual, Gambhir was the natural choice to become the leader of a group of legendary cricketers interspersed with young players looking for the guidance of a player who has seen it all. Gauti leads from the front, lets his bat do the talking and constantly strives for perfection. The focus and determination brought to KKR by the captain helped the team to its best ever performance in the IPL and though he remains proud of his boys for last season, rest assured that Gauti has his eyes firmly set on the target – bringing the IPL title to the Eden Gardens.
The fiery Delhi lad has now become a Kolkatan and clearly revels in the added responsibility that the leadership of such a well loved team brings. “My heart and soul are with KKR. In a matter of weeks, Kolkata has converted me into a Bengali boy. If the schedule permits it, I would love to come here for the Pujas and celebrate with the rest of the city. It has been a season of poriborton (change) for me as well.”
Kolkata awaits the return of Gauti and his Knights for IPL-5!

KING KALLIS A CRICKETING LEGEND....

Jacques Kallis is an undisputed legend of the game. A quiet, unassuming cricketer who lets his bat (and the ball) do all the talking, Kallis has cemented his place among the all-time greats with consistently amazing performances in all disciplines of the game. From being thought of as purely a Test batsman, Kallis has proved all doubters wrong with his ODI form and more recently, his IPL stint. In his 1^st season with the Kolkata Knight Riders, Kallis scored the most runs for his team, 424 in all, besides chipping in with 7 useful wickets and 9 catches.
Kallis is most certainly an awe-inspiring cricketer, even if it’s just for the way he has gone about his career. In almost 2 decades of cricket, Kallis has amassed 11,000+ runs and 270+ wickets in both the traditional forms of the game. These figures will likely remain unsurpassed and they present an enormous challenge for any young cricketer who looks to emulate his role model, King Kallis! But, the essential point is that despite breaking all those records, Kallis doesn’t have an air of superiority about him. He remains available for friendly advice and conversation to all his teammates, young and old.
Kallis has proved that technique and temperament are crucial in any form of the game, even when fans and pundits expect the meticulous South African to start swinging his bat at everything when he steps into a T20 game. Kallis has always had the unique ability to mold the game to suit his requirements, when everyone else is going in a different direction. As he steps into his 18^th year of international cricket and prepares to be honoured by Cricket South Africa for his contribution to the nation’s cricket and the Everest of statistics he has compiled, Kallis has already set his sights on the future, hoping to win his first ODI World Cup in 2015. The measure of his greatness can be gained from this humble quote, "No place is guaranteed in any side so I've got to carry on putting in the results as no individual is more important than the game.”
Kallis has already cemented his place as a fan favourite among KKR fans with his performances last season and the crowd at Eden Gardens eagerly anticipates his exploits in this season’s IPL. 

Webster joins KKR support staff

Dr. Rudi Webster appointed as Mental Skills coach

IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders have appointed renowned sports psychologist Dr. Rudi Webster as their Mental Skills Coach.

The Brabados native was the manager of the glorious West Indies team that dominated world cricket for more than 15 years under the leadership of Clive Lloyd.

KKR CEO, Venky Mysore, expressed his pleasure at acquiring the 72 year-old’s services for IPL 2012. "We are delighted to welcome Dr Webster. I am sure he will add to the strength and play an important role in taking KKR to the next level of performance," Mysore said.

Webster has worked with the national cricket teams of West Indies, Sri Lanka and India in the past. He is also the author of 'Winning Ways: In Search of Your Best Performance'.