OUR SPORTS REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The stage is set for the first IPL game of the season in Guwahati, where Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face Rajasthan Royals at the ACA Stadium Barsapara on Wednesday evening. The match is scheduled to begin at 7:30 PM.
Both KKR and Rajasthan Royals are looking to bounce back after disappointing starts to their campaign. Kolkata Knight Riders suffered a seven-wicket loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their opener. While Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Sunil Narine showed promise with the bat, the middle order faltered. Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer's low scores exposed a weak link in KKR's lineup, costing them the match.
Rajasthan Royals, led by Riyan Parag, also faced a tough loss in their opening game. They conceded a massive 286 runs to Sunrisers Hyderabad and fell short by 44 runs in their chase.
With both teams eager to secure their first win, the stakes are high as they head into this important match.
Despite the opening defeat, KKR's bowling coach Bharat Arun expressed optimism during the pre-match press conference, stating the team wasn't overly concerned about the loss. "It’s always good to win the first game, but there were a lot of positives to take from it. We could have capitalized better, especially towards the end of our innings. But every experience is a lesson, and we will look to improve,” Arun said.
The bowling coach also backed key players like Andre Russell and Rinku Singh, who had underperformed in the tournament opener. "Sports is about learning from failure. Russell will be eager to prove himself, and we believe he will deliver in the upcoming match. Rinku has been in good form, and we're confident in his abilities," Arun added.
As for the conditions at the ACA Stadium, Arun was hopeful for a good contest. "We haven’t closely analyzed the pitch yet, but the wicket looks good, and the outfield is excellent. We expect a good game," he said.
Arun also shared his enthusiasm for playing in Guwahati, calling it a second home for KKR. "Assam feels like our second home. Guwahati is not far from Kolkata, and the language and culture are similar. It gives us a home-like feeling,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag also stated that his team would approach the match with victory in mind. “We lost the first game after giving a good fight. This is our home game, and I am fully aware of the conditions at this ground. Our focus will be on playing good cricket and winning the match.”
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