Morgan credits backroom staff for inputs in KKR's brilliant turnaround

Sharjah: Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper Eoin Morgan has credited the backroom staff for creating an atmosphere that allows youngsters to express themselves and for giving inputs that have helped the team make a grand comeback in IPL 2021 and reach the final against Chennai Super Kings.

Despite starting their IPL 2021 campaign with a win, Kolkata were struggling at the end of the Indian leg with five defeats and two wins and were placed at the 7th spot. They made a remarkable turnaround in UAE, winning five matches and losing only two, which helped them make the playoffs on the basis of a superior Net Run Rate after a tie on points with Mumbai Indians. One of the key factors that made the turnaround possible was the good starts they got from openers, Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer.

On Wednesday, after young openers Gill and Iyer gave the team another terrific start, KKR lost six wickets for seven runs at one stage but prevailed over Delhi Capitals by three wickets and one ball to spare to book their spot in the final on Friday against Chennai Super Kings. Rahul Tripathi, another youngster helped them get past the line despite the hiccups. "It's a nice insight into our team culture - the young guys coming in feel free to express themselves.

The backroom staff have created an environment for them to do this. With the squad we have, there's expectation. Hopefully, we can implement all that we've strategised," said Morgan after the match on Wednesday night.