Post News Network
Kolkata, April 7: While KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir (nickname Gauti) is confident that Sunil Narine will once more play an influential role in his side’s fortune after being cleared by the BCCI, his counterpart from Mumbai Indians, Rohit Sharma asserted that his team has the firepower to thwart the opposition spinners.
“The chucking chapter affecting Narine is closed now,” Gambhir stated while talking to reporters at the Eden Gardens here Tuesday. “I am sure that with his remodelled action he will be as successful.”
Gambhir also stated that with the corrected action Narine has the potential to earn more success. “When he first came here in 2012, not many had heard his name. He established himself very quickly. Now with a new action, I am sure he will be as effective. I have seen him at the nets and he has not lost his bite,” asserted the KKR skipper.
Praising the franchise’s efforts for picking up a rookie like KC Cariappa, the skipper also asserted that domestic players hold the key to success. “Players like Manish (Pandey), Suryakumar (Yadav) and not to forget Robbie (Robin Uthappa), have played a crucial role for the side. I am sure that now with a mentor like Kallis (Jacques), they will be equally effective if not more,” stated Gambhir.
Rohit on the other hand stated that the presence of Sachin Tendulkar has boosted the morale of the side. “He definitely is a great help as well as an inspiration. His inputs help the team always,” pointed out Rohit. He also added that there will not be any special plans for Narine. “No… no special plans. We know we have to play in all the 20 overs including Narine’s four.”
The Eden Gardens holds a special place in Rohit’s heart because he got the highest ODI record individual score of 264 here only. When asked whether he would aim big again Rohit shrugged it off with a disarming smile. “I don’t think 264 is possible in the 20-over format. But definitely I will look to score a hundred as that will certainly help the team,” stated Rohit.
The MI skipper also stated that he was not concentrating on KKR’s strengths and weaknesses. “We just aim to play to our strengths,” Rohit signed off.
