My Life Changed That Night When I Scored 158 Against RCB: Brendon McCullum

In what was the first game of the Indian Premier League, Kolkata Knight Riders’ Brendon McCullum made it more than a special moment as he blasted 10 fours and 13 sixes during his knock of 158* at a time when modern-day cricket was yet to be followed. McCullum’s blistering knock powered KKR to 222/3, Australia’s Ricky Ponting with 20 runs was the second-highest run-scorer in that list.

I think back to the first-ever IPL game, my life changed that night: Brendon McCullum

Kolkata Knight Riders, led by Sourav Ganguly, won the first match by a huge margin of 140 runs after they bowled out RCB for 82. McCullum went down the memory lane and said that knock had changed his life.

In a video posted on KKR’s Instagram page, McCullum talked about his knock.

“It’s changed my life, the opportunities that I have been given at KKR. And I think back to the first-ever IPL game, my life changed that night,” McCullum said. 

You need to maintain respect for the game and respect for the opposition: Brendon McCullum

McCullum has also led New Zealand to World Cup final in 2015, where they eventually lost to joint-host and neighbours Australia. McCullum mentioned that leaders should have a wishbone, funny bone and backbone.

“This is something I believe in, that leaders should have a wishbone; they should have a backbone; they should have a funny bone. You need to maintain respect for the game and respect for the opposition, and ensure that we never turn it off,” McCullum said. 

McCullum retired from all forms of cricket in 2019 after playing a major part of his life in different T20 tournaments with his last appearance came for Toronto Nationals in Global T20 Canada. After retirement, he is involved in coaching as he currently heads the coaching department of both KKR and its sister franchise Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League.

McCullum could not travel to West Indies this year because of personal reasons and travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. However, he will turn up for the Kolkata Knight Riders in UAE later this month.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Hopefully KKR Win the Remaining Matches To Qualify For Playoffs – Shubman Gill