Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Brendon McCullum applauded the new skipper Shreyas Iyer ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season opener against Chennai Super Kings. McCullum believes that Iyer has the potential to be a superstar of the game in the future. He also said that he has all the qualities to be the franchise’s ‘player of the decade’.
Iyer, who captained Delhi Capitals to their maiden IPL final in 2020, was bought by KKR for Rs 12.25 crore after having a bidding war and was subsequently made skipper as well.
”He’s a great buy. He could be the franchise player for KKR for the best part of the decade. We’ve got to start somewhere and that’s tomorrow,” McCullum said on the eve of their IPL 2022 opener against defending champions CSK. ”He’s already incredibly well-respected around the world for what his game is about and what he’s been able to achieve. His best years are certainly in front of him.” ”I think he’s got the potential to be an absolute superstar of the game so I can’t wait to work with him.”
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However, he is excited that their new skipper shares the same sort of attacking mindset he had in his playing days, something he believes would take the team all the way.
”We both share a common value of how we like to see the game played, which is you get a group of guys together, paint a vision and get the guys play the game positively, and try and embrace those who are around you. ‘We all will go on a journey together to try and achieve something not just special in terms of results but also in terms of the investment, which hopefully we’re going to talk about for many years to come. So I’m really, really excited to work with Shreyas,” Brendon McCullum said.
”Southee is not available for the first match, unfortunately, just a little delayed with getting over here to India. So, he won’t be available for the first match,” Brendon McCallum again said.
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In absence of the veteran duo, KKR will depend on Umesh Yadav and Shivam Mavi to give early breakthroughs.
”We would probably go with more of a heavy Indian local players seam bowling lineup. Umesh Yadav was a really good pickup for us in the auction. His ability to swing the ball up front, and he’s also a wicket-taker too. His statistics in the Power Play are really, really good. And that’s what we look to try and use him. So hopefully, between him and the likes of Shivam Marvi and a couple of the other boys we’re going to be able to hopefully get a couple of early wickets and then allow our spinners to enter the game with us on top, Brendon McCullum concluded.
