IPL 2021: It's All About How We Handle The Pressure - Mohammad Kaif Ahead Of DC's Match Against KKR

Delhi Capitals (DC) assistant coach Mohammad Kaif believes the pressure factor will have a huge say in how Qualifier 2 between DC and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pans out. If his side can handle the situation better, they should be able to come out victorious, says Kaif.

DC has had one of their best seasons so far, finishing on top of the table with 10 wins and four losses. They managed to beat Chennai Super Kings (CSK) twice in the league stage but faltered against them in Qualifier 2. They will have to regroup quickly against an upbeat KKR coming off a win against RCB in the Eliminator.

“It’s a big day tomorrow. It’s all about how we handle the pressure. Every game is a pressure game in the IPL, but this game is a different challenge for us. We have to stay calm and keep a steady mind under pressure. Clarity of mind will be very important for us.”

“We have played well in this tournament. We finished at the top of the table in the league phase. We have played good cricket in this tournament. We have had back-to-back losses, but now it’s all about coming back. We have to rise after defeat in our game against KKR. And we have players who can win matches. There’s a lot of experienced and in-form players,” Kaif said.

“Both teams will be under the same pressure” – Mohammad Kaif

If past records matter, Mohammad Kaif feels that the Delhi franchise has the edge. They won the first game against KKR back in India quite comfortably but lost the reverse fixture in the UAE. With a spot in the finals at stake, both teams come into the match tonight with a considerable amount of pressure.

“We have played all the KKR bowlers in the past and we have had success against the team. We defeated them in the first half of the tournament. We lost to KKR in the UAE phase of the tournament, but we were in control in some parts of that match as well. However, in the next match, both teams will be under the same pressure as both sides are playing for a spot in the final,” Kaif added.

The venue for Qualifier 2 will be Sharjah, the place where KKR defeated RCB. They have performed very well in Sharjah so the onus will be on DC to take KKR out of their comfort zone.

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