IPL 2018: Will Approach Against Rajasthan With Momentum and Confidence - Jacques Kallis

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Jacques Kallis is wary of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) threat in the eliminator contest. Kallis believes Royals have made an unexpected entry into the playoffs stage. Well, this would make them a dangerous team.

Rajasthan had their backs against the wall in the early phase of the league stages.

However, Ajinkya Rahane-led team was able to make it to the final four after Jos Buttler scored five consecutive fifties. Kallis believes that Rajasthan can afford to play without any pressure.

Kallis is aware of Royals’ strength:

Jacques K<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->a<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->l<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->l<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->i<!----><<!---->!<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->-<!---->><!---->s wrote in his TOI column, “The Rajasthan players probably feel as though they have been given a second life, a chance at the playoffs they almost certainly weren’t expecting, so that makes them dangerous. This is a bonus for them and I expect they will throw caution to the wind and try to take the game away from us early.”

The former South African all-rounder Kallis added that the Men in Purple will approach the eliminator with sheer ‘confidence’ and ‘momentum. Kolkata was able to beat Rajasthan on both occasions in the league stages.

“We will approach Wednesday’s game against Rajasthan with momentum and confidence and also with the same aggressive brand of cricket we have tried to play with all season. We honestly had no preference who we played when there were still three or four teams vying for that fourth place, but it did look as though the Royals were ‘outsiders’ with a couple of games to go,” Kallis further penned down.

KKR will have a home advantage:

The former great added that home conditions will help his team. Eden Gardens will host the eliminator which would give an advantage to the home side.

Kallis believes that Rajasthan will have to overcome the crowd as well as the opposition players.

Kallis who is regarded as the best all-rounder went on add, “Home ground advantage will be enormous, of course. Naturally I’m biased but Eden Gardens is the best stadium in India with the best crowd – the Royals will have to overcome them as well as the players to stay alive.”

Knight Riders have displayed a team performance in the league matches.

Furthermore, the young players have also risen to the occasion. The Dinesh Karthik led team will also hold a home advantage. KKR has a stronger team on paper.

Kallis hopes that KKR will try to play with a calm mind under pressure.

The KKR chief coach Jacques Kallis also believes the players should able to trust each other in the match situation.

“All the ‘one-percenters’ count double in knockout matches, that’s where the game is often decided. Calmness under pressure and trust in each other have been two of our greatest strengths this season and I’ll be hoping for plenty more of the same; as well as loads of energy and a little bit of luck,” added Kallis.