LUCKNOW: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer Vaibhav Arora credited clear planning in the death overs, a strong Powerplay with the ball, and Rinku Singh's match-defining knock after KKR edged Lucknow Super Giants in a Super Over win at the Ekana Stadium on Sunday.
The victory kept KKR's playoff hopes alive as they registered their second win, with Rinku's blistering 83 off 51 balls proving crucial in helping the side post a competitive total.
Death Over Strategy
Reflecting on the bowling plans in the death overs, Vaibhav said KKR were clear about using the dimensions of the ground and the wind to their advantage. "One side of the ground was bigger than the other, so we planned to keep the ball outside the off stump, especially since the wind was also blowing towards that side. It wasn't a big total — you see scores of 200-250 on this ground — and this was just a 156-run target. We bowled nicely in the Powerplay, and after that their required rate kept climbing. Towards the end, we were clear: if it goes above 10 runs per over, we'll bring the larger boundary into play," he said.
Powerplay Foundation
Vaibhav said the Powerplay laid the foundation for KKR's control over the chase on a surface that was challenging but not unplayable. "The pitch was tough, but not so tough that you can't chase 155. I thought we bowled well, especially in the Powerplay where we conceded just 37 and picked up a wicket. That phase gave us momentum, and then we controlled the middle overs very well. We have the best spinners in the IPL — Sunil Narine and Varun — and they showed their quality again," he said.
Rinku's Heroics
The KKR pacer also highlighted the importance of Rinku Singh's late assault, especially his four sixes in the final over off Digvesh, saying those runs proved decisive. "We won because of Rinku's innings. Had he not played that knock, we wouldn't have reached that total. On this pitch, 155 was a decent score. In the last over, he hit four sixes off Digvesh, and those extra 10-12 runs made all the difference," Vaibhav said.
Bowling Role
Vaibhav, who picked up two crucial wickets, said: "Bowling with the new ball requires a different skill set. You need to swing the ball and hit fuller lengths consistently. My role is usually to bowl 2-3 overs in the Powerplay and then come back at the death. It also depends on the conditions — like today, the pitch was gripping a bit, so we focused on practicing slower deliveries," he said.
Trust in Narine
"Sunil Narine has been our best bowler and has been with us for so long that everyone trusts him to do the job — and he did it superbly. We've seen him bowl a maiden in a Super Over before, so for us, there was no doubt at all," he said.
