IPL 2021: Spirit Of Brendon McCullum Has Been Imbibed By KKR, Says Ian Bishop
Published - 24 Sep 2021, 04:52 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:56 AM
Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop applauded Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Brendon McCullum for the team’s recent performance in IPL 2021. Ahead of the second leg of IPL 2021, KKR were placed in the seventh position on the points table, having won just two out of seven matches.
But Eoin Morgan and his men have changed the course of the tournament with back to back victories against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Mumbai Indians in Abu Dhabi.
A lot of the philosophies will have to be adjusted if KKR qualify for playoffs: Ian Bishop
Ian Bishop said that many philosophies will change if KKR qualify for the IPL and credited McCullum and Morgan for their leadership that brought a drastic change in the team.
“I was tweeting that during the interval after the first half, there seems to have been a religious experience that has taken place where the spirit of McCullum has been imbibed by the rest of the team. That’s exactly how [Eoin] Morgan and McCullum would have wanted the team to play, it’s exactly how those guys played the game,” Bishop told ESPNcricinfo.
“If they continue doing this for the rest of the games and qualify and do well in the IPL, then a lot of the philosophies, including part of my philosophy on how the game is played, will have to be adjusted,” he added.
KKR team management deserves credit for giving Venkatesh Iyer confidence to play: Ian Bishop
KKR opener Venkatesh Iyer, who made his debut against RCB in the last match, has been on the song for his batting heroics.
Iyer continued from where he left off against RCB in the last game as he scored his maiden IPL fifty just playing in his second match while terrorising the Mumbai Indians bowlers with his belligerent shots.
Iyer completed his half-century in 25 balls, his stupendous innings included four fours and three sixes. The southpaw was involved in an 88-run alliance with Rahul Tripathi, who scored 74 in KKR’s chase.
In his first match against RCB, Iyer remained unbeaten on 48 as KKR won that game by nine wickets. Bishop credited KKR team management for unleashing the opener and giving him the confidence to play.
“You’ve got to give the management staff great credit for giving a guy confidence to go and play that way. The intent is one thing, but having the ability to go out there and carry it out is another aspect of it that is sometimes overlooked. It’s amazing that he’s been sort of hidden away in domestic cricket up until now,” Bishop said.
KKR went on to beat Mumbai Indians by seven wickets and jumped in the top four positions with eight points and a net run rate of +0.363. Eoin Morgan’s side will next play Chennai Super Kings on September 26 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
