IPL 2019 | Jacques Kallis confident about Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad depth this season
Jacques Kallis has stated that the Kolkata Knight Riders are a better-balanced team than the last year thanks to the addition of better fast bowling options in the squad. The KKR head coach has also shared his excitement as the team is going to play all their home matches at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
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"It is so good to be back at my second home. The year has passed by so quickly, it feels like I only walked out of the door a couple of weeks ago. I have been excited before every edition of the IPL, at every stage of my career as a player and a coach, and this one is no exception. I don't know how you measure excitement but this year's KKR squad has got me on the edge of my seat. We are definitely better balanced than we were last year with much better fast bowling options and more quality depth in all departments," the South African great wrote in his column for Times of India.
"The majority of the squad has been attending academy sessions throughout the year, which have very clearly benefited them all. Apart from general strength and conditioning they have all been working on and practising specific skills which I'm looking forward to seeing in action. I don't want to tempt fate but every squad member is strong, fit and raring to go. The practice sessions and warm-up games have been excellent. Sometimes it is difficult to create the intensity you need for meaningful practice but that wasn't the case for the last ten days or so.”
After the Indian pair of Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti were ruled out of the IPL with injury concerns, South African quick Anrich Nortje, who had claimed eight wickets from three games at an economy of 6.91 in the Mzansi Super League last year, has also been ruled out. Kallis was disappointed at the absence of Nortje but hoped that he would come back stronger next year.
"It is a pity that our South African fast bowler, Anrich Nortje, has had to withdraw through injury, but that's the nature of the professional sport - especially for fast bowlers! But he is a serious talent and I have no doubt he will make his mark in the IPL in years to come - for us," Kallis added.
After a lot of permutations and combinations due to India's Federal Elections of 2019, it was finally decided that the IPL will be played in India and to the credit of the BCCI fixtures committee, they have managed to keep the home and away system intact. Kallis is happy that the franchise will get to play their home matches in Kolkata, which, he thinks, will give their fans some happiness.
"The best news, of course, is that all our home games will be at Eden Gardens. Every franchise is proud of their home venue and their home crowd, but everyone also knows that the level of support we get and the atmosphere at the Gardens is like having a 12th player on the field. We have a few new faces, but mostly we have the same guys who have done so well for us in the past. The KKR 'family' is a cornerstone of the franchise philosophy and we don't trade our brothers lightly! The senior players all seem to be super fit and hungry for success. KKR will be hitting the ground running this year," Kallis concluded.
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