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SPORTS MAY 03, 2024 | The Indian Eye 52

This IPL season has been Joshi insisted that the team is ready
breathtaking as far as batting is con- for the challenge that KKR pose.
cerned. With scores of 200-250 being “We are not concerned about
made so easily, many players have KKR spin bowling. Every cricketer
questioned the need for the ‘Impact who comes to IPL, which is one of
Player’ rule, which, they feel, gives the best leagues in the world, puts
the batting team an advantage with up a challenge. You have to accept
an extra batter in their line-up that the challenge. Whether you perform
they can use as a substitute. or do not perform, you have to be
ready. Every day is a different day
At an event in Delhi on Monday, with different challenges. Your body
feels differently. We feel we are ready
Delhi Capitals (DC) and Indian for tomorrow,” Joshi said in the pre-

all-rounder Axar Patel criti- match press conference.
In eight games this season so far,
cised the rule introduced just Punjab has picked up two wins. But
last season. Ahead of the clash Joshi said that the team is confident
of making a strong comeback and is
against DC, the Gujarat Titans focusing on areas where they can im-

batter also said he was not a prove further.
“It’s important to understand
huge fan of the Impact Player that any team will go through wins
being used. and losses. Our focus is to rise again.
This is a short format of the game,
where you might get hit for a six on
Speaking on his Youtube Chan- the best ball or you get a wicket on a
nel on Wednesday, De Villiers said, loose ball,” he said.
“It is the batter’s game at the mo- “It depends on how you prepare
ment. They are having a feast and it your body for the day of the game
does not help that the wickets have and how mentally relaxed you are.
been incredibly good at the IPL. I Every time you face the stress of per-
was excited when it (Impact Player) forming, your body may not fire. You
was introduced. It is too early for me have to be calm down and play one
to call it but I personally do not see ball at a time,” Joshi added.
too much harm to it.” Kolkata have lost one out of their
The Proteas batter, who also Kolkata Knight Riders’ Sunil Narine celebrates a wicket during the match against Rajasthan four games at their home ground so
played for RCB from 2011-21, also Royals at Eden Gardens in Kolkata (ANI) far. Their last win at the Eden Gar-
opened up on spinner Yuzvendra dens was by 1 run against the Royal
Chahal’s departure from franchise in Challengers Bangalore.
2021, calling it a “heartbreaking mo- the injured Mitchell Marsh for the re- games. DC have five games remaining “We go through a lot of stuff
ment”. Chahal has been playing for mainder of the IPL season. in the tournament against Mumbai during our training sessions, phase-
Rajasthan Royals (RR) since 2022 “Delhi Capitals have signed Af- Indians (MI), Kolkata Knight Rid- wise. One of our areas to work around
and recently became the first-ev- ghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib ers (KKR), Rajasthan Royals (RR), is to not lose too many wickets in the
er bowler to take 200 IPL wickets as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) middle overs. Hopefully, the pres-
against Mumbai Indians on Monday. for the remainder of the Indian Pre- and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). sure is now on the home team - since
“RCB let him go. It was a heart- mier League (IPL) 2024,” a state- we are on the road again. So, we can
breaking moment. He was a part of ment from IPL read. “NOT CONCERNED ABOUT play freely and get runs,” Joshi said.
the furniture there and also their best A right-handed batter and a me- KKR SPIN BOWLING”: PBKS “KKR has been performing
bowler. It was crazy that he got left dium pacer, this will be his first stint consistently well in all three depart-
out of that franchise. It is not easy in the IPL. Naib signed in for his re- COACH SUNIL JOSHI ments. Any team which covers all
looking at Yuzi go to 200 wickets serve price of INR 50 lakhs. Marsh unjab Kings spin bowling coach three departments will be on top of
and him not being a part of RCB,” was ruled out of the tournament due Sunil Joshi stated that they are the table. You have to respect that.
he said. to an injury. Pnot concerned about the Kolk- But every day, every game is a dif-
In 153 matches, Chahal has tak- The all-rounder Marsh could ata Knight Riders spin attack ahead ferent one. Playing under home and
en 200 wickets at an average of 21.37, feature in only four games this sea- of their upcoming clash in the Indian away conditions has its scenarios and
with the best figures of 5/40. He has son for DC, scoring 61 runs in three Premier League (IPL) 2024 at Eden a lot of things matter. So, hopefully,
taken six four-wicket hauls and a innings and getting a wicket. His Gardens. it will be a good game for us tomor-
five-wicket haul during his IPL ca- highest score was 23. This is the sec- The Punjab Kings are on the row,” he added.
reer. ond successive season that DC has road once again and will face off On being asked about the form
lost his services midway through the against the in-form KKR at the Eden of the overseas talent in the team,
GULBADIN NAIB JOINS DC tournament. Gardens on Friday. Joshi backed the squad and said that
Kolkata is currently placed in the
Naib has represented Afghan-
AS REPLACEMENT FOR istan in 82 One-Day Internationals second position in the points table the results are decided by overall
team performance.
MITCHELL MARSH (ODIs) and 65 T20 Internationals with 5 wins in 7 games. “We are a team. We win togeth-
elhi Capitals (DC) on Thurs- (T20Is) so far. KKR has a strong spin duo of er or we lose together. Even if win
day announced the signing In the ongoing tournament, DC Sunil Narine and Varun Chakara- or lose by 1 run or wicket, the team
Dof Afghanistan all-rounder hold the sixth position on the points varthy who have combined together takes it head-on and moves on,” he
Gulbadin Naib as a replacement for table with four victories from nine to pick 17 wickets in seven matches. signed off.

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