Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakant Pandit expressed confidence ahead of their upcoming IPL 2025 clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. KKR will enter the contest on the back of a dominant eight-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, while Mumbai Indians are still searching for their first victory after two consecutive losses.
Discussing Mumbai’s bowling attack, Pandit acknowledged the absence of Jasprit Bumrah but emphasized that MI still possesses a capable bowling unit.
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“Bumrah makes a difference to Mumbai, but their other bowlers are also quite capable,” Pandit stated, as per a release by KKR.
The KKR head coach believes his team can take advantage of Mumbai’s rough start but remains cautious about the home conditions at Wankhede.
“More than anything, I’m focused on how well our team played in the last game. Unfortunately, Mumbai Indians haven’t been performing at that level, which gives us another advantage to put pressure on them. However, since the game is in Mumbai, we need to adapt quickly to the conditions here, and that’s what we’ve been planning for. I’m confident we’ll be able to do that,” he added.
Pandit also lauded KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane for his composed leadership and wealth of experience.
“Everyone is aware of Rahane’s capabilities. He’s not just leading KKR, but he’s also captained the Mumbai team and India. He possesses diverse leadership skills and approaches. He also had an excellent season in the domestic circuit, and you could see his confidence in our first game. He’s highly respected within the team. People particularly mention how calm and composed he remains when handling difficult situations,” Pandit remarked.
Quinton de Kock’s Explosive Form a Boost for KKR
The head coach expressed satisfaction with Quinton de Kock’s match-winning performance in KKR’s previous game, where he smashed an unbeaten 97 to steer the team to victory. Pandit highlighted the significance of the wicketkeeper-batter’s attacking approach in the powerplay.
“The way Quinton has started this tournament has been impressive. His confidence level, especially in T20 cricket, is remarkable. Having someone who can attack in the first six overs makes a difference for the entire team. That’s the quality he brings,” Pandit noted.
Providing an update on Sunil Narine, Pandit confirmed that the star all-rounder has recovered from his injury and is available for selection after training with the squad.
With KKR aiming to extend their winning streak and Mumbai Indians eager to bounce back, the upcoming clash at Wankhede promises to be a high-intensity battle in the early stages of IPL 2025.
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.
