IPL | Spin will play important part in clash against GT: KKR’s spin bowling coach Crowe

Kolkata Knight Riders spin coach discusses team performance and strategy ahead of match against Gujarat Titans.

Kolkata Knight Riders spin bowling coach Carl Crowe said the loss against Punjab Kings in the low-scoring match did not make his team a bad side in the Indian Premier League.

Ahead of KKR’s home match against Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens here, Crowe said, “It’s important not to get too high or too low in wins or losses. We bowled incredibly well (against PBKS).

“If you over-analyse about a quarter of the match and not think about the first two-thirds to three-quarters when we performed very well, you sort of find yourself in a hole.”

Crowe said spin would play a key part in the clash against GT. “The captain (Ajinkya Rahane) has used the spinners very wisely throughout the whole competition. We’re pretty happy with the spinners we’ve got and how they’re performing.”

Asked whether Caribbean all-rounder Rovman Powell would play against GT, Crowe said the team would keep it a secret until Monday.

GT’s director of cricket Vikram Solanki said his side would not take KKR lightly. “It is a long tournament, and you go through phases. I don’t know the statistics exactly, but it’s very difficult to go through a tournament flawlessly and not lose. You try to put your best foot forward and try to give the best performance of yourself.

“You take some confidence from your previous performances. What we’re doing right now is looking ahead to facing a competitive and a strong KKR team, which we’ll respect,” said Solanki.