Kolkata Knight Riders head coach Abhishek Nayar has said that his side will not change the approach despite entering the final match of IPL 2026 needing results to go their way for a playoff spot as well. With KKR’s campaign suddenly bouncing back, Nayar said that they remain focused on playing “the best cricket possible” regardless of the playoff equation.

“There is always value. Imagine a player scoring a hundred tomorrow. Every game of cricket has value. Everything matters, every number, every victory,” Nayar said. “You have to understand that everyone who buys a ticket and comes to watch the game tomorrow is coming to watch Kolkata Knight Riders. Every win brings happiness to the city, and the players understand that very well.”

“Our fans care deeply about the franchise. So, it does not matter whether it is a dead rubber or not. The mindset will remain the same, to play the best cricket we can. Every individual in the team is not only representing the franchise but also representing himself. Everyone wants to leave an impression. The attitude will remain unchanged, regardless of the result,” he shared again.

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Abhishek Nayar also dismissed any idea of taking the DC lightly despite their slim playoff chances, stating that every side in the IPL remains dangerous as well.

“Any opponent in the IPL is a strong opponent. All teams are beautifully balanced. They have the best players in the world, the best Indian players, and young cricketers eager to make a name for themselves,” Nayar said.

“So, there is no team in this format, especially in the IPL, that you can say is not strong. Every team is dangerous. Every team wants to perform at the highest level. As I said, our approach has remained very consistent and we want to continue with that. We assess the opposition and try to understand them, but eventually, on the day, the team that plays better cricket usually wins,” Abhishek Nayar concluded.