27 May,2011 07:49 AM IST | | Harit N Joshi
The Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign may have ended for Kolkata Knight Riders, but skipper Gautam Gambhir is still hopeful of making it to the Champions League Twenty20.
"We still have a chance to qualify for the Champions League. The format of the tournament is such that anything can happen.
Hopeful: Gautam Gambhir
"In the qualifiers we will play against Trinidad and Tobago, one team from Sri Lanka and one from New Zealand out of which two teams will qualify," Gambhir said in the post-match conference after KKR's four-wicket loss against Mumbai Indians in the Eliminator at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.
Mumbai Indians chased down the 148-run target to meet Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Qualifier Two in Chennai. The result also ensured them a berth in their Champions League.
On May 22, IPL chief executive Sundar Raman had tweeted: "A fourth team may have the opportunity to play CLT20. But they need to play a qualifier tournament a few days before CLT20 with 3 other teams."
Gambhir however, felt that they lost the game in the first six overs where they were reeling at 20-4.
"We lost the game in the first six overs, but recovering it to 147, we did a good job, but I think it was the turning point of the game," he said.
"To be honest we didn't apply our self out there. We took too much of risk in the first six overs as we were looking to score quickly.
"Sometimes in T20 it favours you, sometimes it doesn't. But they bowled really well and in good areas. So, credit goes to Mumbai bowlers," he added.
Meanwhile, James Franklin, who again bailed out Mumbai Indians from a tough situation with an unbeaten 29 runs knock, is confident MI can win the title.
"We have to win two more matches. We are capable of winning the title. Today the bowlers bowled well and (Aiden) Blizzard and Sachin (Tendulkar) gave us a fine start," he said.
