KKR players cannot wait to play IPL 2021 final in Dubai: Chief Mentor David Hussey

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fans will be optimistic of a fantastic performance against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2021 final.

KKR players celebrate a wicket against RCB. (Image: Twitter/IPL)
By Arnab Mukherji | Oct 15, 2021 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chief mentor David Hussey stated that the players are eager to take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 final on Friday at the Dubai International Stadium. A nail-biting three-wicket win against the Delhi Capitals (DC) in Qualifier 2 powered KKR to the summit clash of the ongoing edition. The Kolkata-based franchise will be battling out against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) who are led by MS Dhoni.

“The opening partnership that we had between the two opening players was just class personified. They complement each other really well; if one player is going, the other one sits back and gives the other person the strike. I think they run between the wickets very well, and they get on famously off the park, so we have definitely found a nice opening partnership, and hopefully, it continues for one more game. We have found a player in Venkatesh Iyer; not only is he a classy player, but he is a wonderful person and a wonderful team man as well. I thought he struck the ball superbly today, and from ball one, I think some of the big sixes he hit today actually changed the tempo of the game and got us into a winning position, ” said Hussey as quoted by the KKR official website.

“Morgan is captaining really well”

“I think the break at the halfway stage of the IPL definitely helped, but I truly believe that Morgan is captaining really well. He is marshalling the troops, and he is tactically very clever, and the bowling changes have been spot on, and I think that has contributed to our success this time around, ” he added.

“It is unheard of what he (Brendon McCullum) has done here; it is remarkable. We were seventh on the table, not playing great cricket, and he has just turned it around and given everybody a fresh lease of life and freshened up the place. Everybody is happy, everybody is smiling, and he should take a lot of credit for what he has been able to accomplish in this part of the IPL,” stated Hussey.

“In terms of the grand final and the record that we have, it is a great record to go into the grand final. You do take a bit of confidence from that, but playing against the Chennai Super Kings, who have barely missed the finals in the history of the IPL, so it is going to be a great contest. Chennai Super Kings are very well-coached, and I know walking into the dressing room tonight, all the boys cannot wait to get to Dubai and play on Friday night, ” he concluded.

Eoin Morgan’s poor form an area of concern

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir was recently critical of KKR skipper Eoin Morgan’s performances in the ongoing UAE leg of IPL 2021. Gambhir is considered the most successful captain in the history of the Kolkata-based franchise, making his presence felt during the tenure through consistent success. While Morgan has managed to lead KKR on to the final of the 2021 edition, his personal form has left much to be desired. CSK skipper MS Dhoni has been a better contributor despite having announced his retirement from international cricket.

“Comparing their forms is very wrong in itself because MS Dhoni has retired from international cricket and the second player is the captain of his national team. You should not compare apples with oranges. MS Dhoni hasn’t played international cricket for so long and it’s acceptable if he’s not in form or is contributing less,” said Gambhir on ESPN Cricinfo.

“But on the other hand, Morgan is playing international cricket. Still, if you look at their performances, MS Dhoni has performed better than Morgan even with the bat. Moreover, Dhoni also keeps wickets and captains, so there are three departments. Morgan has only two things – captaincy and batting, where one has been extremely bad. So, it’s not fair to compare MS and Morgan’s form,” he added.





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