Thaindian News

Mohali (Punjab), March 26 (IANS) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who will take on Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League-III match Saturday, are looking forward to break their losing streak by putting up their best performance, coach Dave Whatmore said Friday.
“It is not a nice feeling after losing three matches on a trot. We are identifying areas we are lacking and during the past few days we have worked to fix them. We need our batsmen to put more runs on the board,” Whatmore said at the pre-match press conference Friday evening.

On his team’s main pacer Ishant Sharma failing to find a place in national team for the T20 world cup, Whatmore said: “Ishant could have been picked. These things are beyond our control. It’s selectors’ job and they pick the team, which they think is the best.”

“However, we are not concerned with national T20 selections as we have a big job at hand to do. In T20, any team is capable of beating anyone. Kings XI Punjab have won just one game and they will come hard at us and we are ready for the challenge,” he said.

Whatmore said his KKR were keen in putting their best foot forward and to achieve the best results.

Australian batsman David Hussey, who is in the KKR team, told reporters: “We had a great start in the season. We just need to focus on tomorrow’s game. It’s a must win game for us. All the boys are ready and raring to go.”

However, Kings XI Punjab captain Kumara Sangakara is also looking forward to put up a good show in Saturday’s game.

“In the last few matches we had frittered our chances. We have lost some games from a position when we were going really strong. Senior players have to take the responsibility and we would try to put up a good show on tomorrow.”

Sangakkara also gave the clear indications that Brett Lee and Shaun Marsh would play Saturday’s match against KKR.

“Brett Lee is hungry to play and Marsh is also raring to go,” he added.

On the selection of Piyush Chawla in the T20 world cup team, Sangakkara said: “He actually deserves it. He is performing well both with the ball and while fielding.”