We have the confidence to beat KKR: Royals pacer Kulkarni
Monday - May 14, 2018 4:50 pm ,
Category : SPORTS
We have the confidence to beat KKR: Royals pacer Kulkarni
Mumbai May 14 (IANS) Rajasthan Royals pacer Dhawal Kulkarni expressed confidence that his team can beat Kolkata Knight Riders riding on the momentum of registering three back-to-back victories in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Royals kept alive their play-off hopes by beating defending champions Mumbai Indians by seven wickets with two overs to spare on Sunday night.
The Ajinkya Rahane-led side will face two-time champions KKR at the Edens Gardens on Tuesday.
"All the games are crucial for us. Maybe in the next game we ve got a good chance to beat Kolkata Knight Riders. With the momentum that we ve got I m sure we ll be able to do that " said Kulkarni at the post match press conference.
Royals moved up to fifth spot with 12 points in as many games following their third victory on the trot.
England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler continued his red hot form smashing 94 in 53 balls his second successive unconquered 90-plus score in the competition.
On the move to promote Buttler to the top of the order Kulkarni said: "I think it was a collective decision of the captain (head of cricket) Zubin (Bharucha) (mentor) Shane (Warne) and (batting coach) Amol (Muzumdar). So he is doing well for us and I hope he continues to be in that form for us."
West Indian seamer Jofra Archer also contributed with early strikes in successive balls to dent Mumbai s surge. He removed opener Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Rohit Sharma.
"I feel a bowler who s bowling at 145 (kmph) it s very difficult for a batsman to face that - especially with the way he bowls the high arm action that he s got. Wankhede s wicket has got good bounce and good carry. He s been bowling consistently well. But today it was special " he said.
"The wicket assisted him really well. The way he was getting that bounce! I just wished that he got a hat-trick."
--IANS dm/pur/bg
Royals kept alive their play-off hopes by beating defending champions Mumbai Indians by seven wickets with two overs to spare on Sunday night.
The Ajinkya Rahane-led side will face two-time champions KKR at the Edens Gardens on Tuesday.
"All the games are crucial for us. Maybe in the next game we ve got a good chance to beat Kolkata Knight Riders. With the momentum that we ve got I m sure we ll be able to do that " said Kulkarni at the post match press conference.
Royals moved up to fifth spot with 12 points in as many games following their third victory on the trot.
England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler continued his red hot form smashing 94 in 53 balls his second successive unconquered 90-plus score in the competition.
On the move to promote Buttler to the top of the order Kulkarni said: "I think it was a collective decision of the captain (head of cricket) Zubin (Bharucha) (mentor) Shane (Warne) and (batting coach) Amol (Muzumdar). So he is doing well for us and I hope he continues to be in that form for us."
West Indian seamer Jofra Archer also contributed with early strikes in successive balls to dent Mumbai s surge. He removed opener Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Rohit Sharma.
"I feel a bowler who s bowling at 145 (kmph) it s very difficult for a batsman to face that - especially with the way he bowls the high arm action that he s got. Wankhede s wicket has got good bounce and good carry. He s been bowling consistently well. But today it was special " he said.
"The wicket assisted him really well. The way he was getting that bounce! I just wished that he got a hat-trick."
--IANS dm/pur/bg
