IPL 2021: My style of leadership was perhaps a little wild, says Brendon McCullum

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Brendon McCullum admitted that his style of leadership was pretty wild in the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 season. However, McCullum was happy to get the results in the second half of the tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). KKR made a remarkable turnaround when the event was moved to the UAE, after struggling in the first leg of the tournament in India.

“My style of leadership or coaching was perhaps a little wild,” McCullum told SENZ Drive as quoted by India Today.

“It takes a little while to really dig down and thankfully we were able to do it in the second half of the tournament and we got a bit more intent into batting and then we were able to play a bit more of an aggressive form of cricket. Thankfully it translated to results and we got on a bit of a roll. We rocked in the second half of the tournament, we were kind of dead and buried (after starting with two wins and five losses). We were under a fair amount of pressure with two wins from seven games and seventh on the table out of eight. The expectations on us were pretty low,” he added.

David Warner confirms he will be part of mega auction

Australia opener David Warner confirmed that he will be part of the mega auction in the lead up to Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Warner is not hopeful of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) retaining him ahead of the new season.

“I will put my name in the auction. By the signs of the recent IPL, I won’t be retained by the Sunrisers, so I’m looking forward to a fresh start. I kind of laughed at the reasoning, that two guys were hitting the ball out of the middle a little bit better than I was. Given that when you’re playing the game you’re playing the scenario,” said Warner in an interaction with SEN radio.

“Obviously, there are a lot of moving parts around there. What you have to do as a professional athlete is take it on the chin do everything you can for the team. Not being able to go there, run drinks, and be around was when it sort of hit home that it could be personal, and I’m still yet to get those answers,” he added.

Hardik Pandya unlikely to be retained by MI

All-rounder Hardik Pandya is likely to be sent back into the IPL auction pool by Mumbai Indians.

“I think BCCI will have three-player retention formula with one Right to Match card. If RTM is not there, there could be four retentions. Rohit Sharma and India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah are automatic picks. Kieron Pollard will be the third retention. MI’s strength is their continuity as these three are pillars of MI,” a senior IPL official tracking the retention market of franchises told PTI.

“At this point in time, there is less than 10 percent chance that Hardik will be retained by MI. Yes, he might just outperform everybody in the next few T20 World Cup games but even then, chances are dim. If there are four retention or 1 RTM, then Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan are the contenders for that slot,” he added.