Kolkata (West Bengal), India, April 7 (ANI): The assistant coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Ottis Gibson, showcased trust in his team’s bowlers before their match against the Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, April 8. He also praised the efforts of the two young Indian fast bowlers, Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora.

At Eden Gardens, where they play as the home team, fifth-ranked KKR will face off against sixth-place LSG on Tuesday. Both squads have managed only two victories from their first four matches. Leading up to this encounter, LSG narrowly defeated MI—a five-time champion—by 12 runs in front of their own fans. Meanwhile, KKR previously recorded an impressive victory over SRH during one of their recent fixtures held at their home ground.

At the pre-game media briefing, Gibson emphasized the successful bowling approach they employed in their earlier win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. He stated, "Our main focus will be to claim early wickets with the new ball, something we managed effectively in our last match. This tactic remains crucial for us moving ahead," according to Gibson.

KKR’s coaching staff seems notably pleased with the progress of home fast bowler Vaibhav, who leads the pack as one of their key wicket-takers this campaign, securing six dismissals with an average of 17.33 and conceding runs at a rate of 9.45 per over. In contrast, Rana has claimed three wickets across four games, maintaining an average of 37.00 and giving away runs at a slightly lower rate of 9.25 per over.

"He (Vaibhav) has done very well for us. Both Harshit (Rana) and him have done very well," Gibson noted. "Look at the fact that in the last game, for instance, we were able to leave out Spencer Johnson, an international player, and play these two guys because we trust them," he added.

Gibson disclosed that Arora has been collaborating intensively with team advisor Dwayne Bravo to hone his tactics. "We understand the effort Vaibhav is putting in alongside DJ Bravo regarding game plans, how he intends to structure his bowling sessions, and his approach towards taking wickets, which is proving quite effective."

When questioned regarding his squad’s strong points, Gibson was clear-cut: “Our bowling unit stands out.” He further showed faith in the team’s spinning contingent, singling out Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine for praise. Gibson stated confidently, “Should our bowlers fail to claim early wickets with the new ball, we have these players who remain effective assets,” referring to them as ‘likely the top two spinners in this league.’

Gibson verified that the squad trained in the afternoon yesterday to get accustomed to the anticipated heat for the upcoming match scheduled later in the day. He further noted, "Many of these players have participated extensively in the IPL; thus, they are familiar with both evening and daytime matches, so this should not impact us significantly."

As KKR aims to capitalize on their recent achievements, Gibson’s assurance indicates that the squad feels ready to face the Lucknow Super Giants in a highly anticipated match at Eden Gardens. (ANI)