IPL 2018 | Destiny is still in our hands to qualify for the playoffs, believes Jacques Kallis

Dinesh Karthik-led Kolkata Knight Riders lost two back-to-back matches to Mumbai Indians, but got their campaign back on time by posting this season's highest total of 245/6 match against Kings XI Punjab and went on to win the contest by 31 runs. Though KKR is currently holding the number 3 position on the points table, two playoffs berths are wide open for all the 5 teams barring Delhi. Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad have already qualified for the playoffs. 

Kolkata Knight Riders record in this year's IPL shows how much inconsistent they are - winning 6 matches out of 12, but chief coach Jacques Kallis believes that it's a matter of playing two good games which can seal a playoff berth for them. 

"Destiny is still in our hands. If we play two good games of cricket, we are through to the playoffs and that's what we are interested in. It's about taking one game at a time and play well tomorrow," Kallis told reporters as reported by News18.

Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, are on a roll with a hat-trick of wins and currently sat in the fourth position. However, Kallis believes that both the teams are coming back from wins and have enough confidence but today’s match is all about executing skills properly.    

"We are not really worried about what the rest of the teams are doing. Both teams are coming to confidence, so it's going to boil down who executes better on the day. It's pretty even when it comes to how the teams are coming into this game," observed Kallis.

Though both the teams are having 12 points in their hands, KKR is ahead of RR because of net run-rate on which Kallis feels clinching a win is most important rather than worrying about run rate.

"Winning will be the priority, if we win two matches we are through to the playoffs."

Jos Buttler has been in exceptional form with five half-centuries in a row but Kallis said they have a plan in place for Buttler as well as all opposition batsmen.

"He certainly has been consistent and in good form. So we obviously have to make sure we have some good plans against him and the rest of the batters as well. Hopefully, they will work for us to win the game," revealed Kallis.

Kallis also lauded the captaincy of Karthik, who has also been consistent with the bat.

"He likes leading from the front, he leads with a lot of energy. He obviously has got a lot of experience and understands the game pretty well. It's been a fairly smooth transition. Hopefully, we can come up with good game plan tomorrow which leads us to victory," he concluded.