IPL 2021: Brendon McCullum hopeful of better second phase for Kolkata Knight Riders

When
IPL
2021
was
suspended
due
to
the
COVID-19
pandemic
in
India
earlier
this
year,
KKR
were
seventh
in
the
points
table
with
4
points
from
seven
games,
managing
just
two
wins.
Now,
KKR
needs
to
win
six
of
seven
in
order
to
book
a
place
in
the
play-offs.

And
McCullum
felt
his
side
can
turn
things
around
when
the
season
resumes
from
September
19,
but
admitted
they
need
to
hit
the
ground
running
and
need
to
be
consistent
in
performance
for
the
remainder
of
the
matches.

“In
regards
to
the
tournament
which
is
upcoming
(IPL
phase
II),
we
can
end
it
right.
We
can
take
the
game
on
and
we’re
in
a
situation
where
we
need
things
to
go
our
way,”
the
official
website
of
KKR
quoted
McCullum
as
saying.

“We
need
to
hit
the
ground
running,
challenge
one
another
privately,
support
one
another
publicly
and
try
and
get
the
best
out
of
one
another
in
the
next
4-5
weeks.
Who
knows
where
we
can
go
with
this.”

IPL
2021:
RCB
to
wear
blue
jersey
in
support
of
frontline
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on
September
20

McCullum
also
admitted
that
his
side
was
a
little
bit
paralysed
due
to
fear
of
failing
in
the
first
phase
of
the
IPL
2021
when
they
suffered
five
defeats.

“Everyone
who
supports
KKR
knows
exactly
the
type
of
cricket
they
are
going
to
play.
We
are
going
to
try
and
entertain
and
take
the
opposition
on.
There
were
sometimes
throughout
the
season
when
I
just
felt
we
were
being
paralysed
a
little
bit
by
fear,”
he
added.

Further
talking
about
his
coaching
style,
McCullum
said
it
was
a
good
learning
for
himself
and
the
players.

“I
wasn’t
able
to
free
the
guys
up
enough
to
understand
that
and
that’s
sort
of
a
challenge
for
me.
But
it
is
also
a
good
challenge
for
the
guys
as
well
that
they
need
to
push
the
envelope
of
their
own
thinking
as
well,”
McCullum
said.

The
head
coach,
however,
hopes
to
put
the
first
phase
behind
and
wants
his
side
to
go
out
there
and
enjoy
themselves
by
playing
with
freedom.

IPL
2021
KKR
Phase
2
Schedule:
Kolkata
Knight
Riders
Time
Table,
Dates,
Timings,
Venues
and
Table
Standings

“Hopefully
we
will
be
able
to
strip
away
a
bit
of
the
angst
which
had
built
up
in
the
first
part
of
the
season,
just
go
out
there
and
try
and
enjoy
ourselves.
That’s
the
ambition
that
I
have
got
for
the
franchise
and
hence
why
I
am
unapologetic
and
unrelenting
in
my
belief
that
we
need
to
play
a
braver
style
of
play.”

“When
we
left
India
(after
IPL
was
called
off
due
to
Covid),
I
think
everyone
understood
me
as
a
coach
on
how
I
want
our
team
to
play.
I
am
unapologetic
about
that
as
well
because
my
job
is
to
try
and
build
something
at
KKR
that
is
going
to
last
far
longer
than
I
am
going
to
last
for
the
franchise,”
he
added.

While
IPL
2021
resumes
on
September
19
in
Dubai
with
a
blockbuster
clash
between
Chennai
Super
Kings
and
defending
champions
Mumbai
Indians,
Kolkata
Knight
Riders
will
begin
their
second
phase
campaign
against
Royal
Challengers
Bangalore
on
September
20
in
Abu
Dhabi.

(With
Agency
inputs)