KKR aim to win third IPL title, says Suryakumar
Kolkata, April 3 (IANS) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vice-captain Suryakumar Yadav on Monday said the two-time champions will go all out this time to add a third star on the jersey by bringing the Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy home.
Usually, teams have stars on top of their badge or crest to depict the number of titles they have won.
The winners of the IPL in 2012 and 2014, KKR lost to eventual champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator last year by 22 runs.
Yadav managed just eight in that game as the Knights failed to chase down 162 posted by David Warner and co.
“There is not point thinking about last year. We have moved on and are thinking about this season,” Yadav, who played a match-winning knock of 60 against Rising Pune Supergiant in the last edition, told reporters on the sidelines of a city jewellery company’s tie-up with the purple brigade.
“We have two stars on our shirt and hopefully will add a third giving you all reason to celebrate,” the 26-year-old Mumbai lad added.
Meanwhile West Indian opener Darren Bravo, who suffered an injury scare early on while training with the team, said it’s a feeling of homecoming for him as he plays for the same franchise in the Caribbean Premier League, Trinbago Knight Riders.
“By all means, the IPL is the No.1 T20 competition in the world. I think I am very privileged to be part of the KKR team. KKR is the owner of CPL team (Trinbago Knight Riders), so for me its like a family and coming back home,” the left-hander who is making a debut in the cash-rich league, said.
Also present on the occasion were big-hitting Yusuf Pathan, left-arm Australian spinner Chris Lynn and top-order batsman Manish Pandey.
Pandey said batting at No.3 for KKR, he will have to shoulder a lot of responsibility.
“For KKR I bat at No.3 so I have to shoulder a lot of responsibilities. I have to play along with the middle order, so definitely we will not repeat mistakes of last year and try and play better cricket this time,” Pandey, who amassed 248 runs in 12 games last season, said.
Pandey, who last played for India in the second T20 international against England on January 29, added that the IPL will be a good platform for him to impress ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy in June.
“IPL will be a good platform for me to get back into reckoning for India ahead of the Champions Trophy. At the moment I am focussing on IPL and doing well for the team.”
KKR will take on Gujarat Lions on April 7 in Rajkot.