12 May,2024 04:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Nitish Rana (Pic: File Pic)
Following the IPL 2024 match win against Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders vice-captain Nitish Rana opened up on his team's success story. He said that the team's success lies in the players' newfound ability to support each other through highs and lows. Rana also mentioned that it was missing for the past two years.
After defeating Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2024 playoffs. This was the first time for KKR since 2021 they made it to the last four stages.
"We win together and we lose together; that's the dressing room environment we have. It's very important to place hands on each other's shoulders, and I feel it was missing for the last one to two years," Rana said in the post-match media interaction here.
With the win against MI, they are now the table toppers of the IPL 2024 with 18 points and are still left with two games in the league stage.
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The big reality check for KKR had come against Punjab Kings who smashed South Africa's record of the highest successful run-chase by gunning down 262 with eight balls to spare in an IPL 2024 fixture at Eden Gardens on April 26.
"We felt really bad that day. I was witness to the dressing room, only three ate dinner that night," he recalled.
In the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana led Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous IPL season. He made a comeback after missing out on 10 matches. Having scored a crucial 23-ball 33 on his return, the lefthander said he had anxiety pangs and had a sleepless night.
"To be honest I was not able to touch the bat for 20-22 days because of the injury. Then slowly it started falling into place. I used to play innings in my mind.
"I couldn't sleep the whole night yesterday. It seemed I'm playing the first IPL match of my life. I slept only around 7.30-8 am such was the anxiety.
"It seemed I was playing my first match, you have to increase your hunger to do well. Luckily I had that thing in me," he said.
Mumbai Indians who are already out of the IPL 2024 playoff race, this was the ninth defeat of the season. They will play their last match against Lucknow Super Giants on May 17.
Veteran spinner Piyush Chawla said that the reason behind his team ending in this position was the lack of momentum in the IPL 2024.
"T20 is about momentum, and we didn't get that momentum right from the beginning. Some days we bowled well, but our batting didn't click, and sometimes our batters did well, but the bowlers ended up leaking runs," Chawla said.
"As a unit, we have failed in a few games, and we have to accept that as a team. We have a brilliant lineup, but things didn't fall into place.
"Today also, we started off brilliantly, but that spell of (Sunil) Narine and Varun (Chakravarthy) actually made the difference. You have to give credit to their bowlers," he added.
The 35-year-old, who has played 191 matches in the IPL in four different franchises including KKR, feels it's not over for him yet.
To a query if he would be back in action next season, Chawla gave a cheeky reply.
"You tell me, if I should be playing with the way I'm bowling? If you have given your permission, of course I will see you somewhere next time," he signed off.
Piyush Chawla has bagged 10 wickets for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024.
(With PTI Inputs)
