Kolkata : Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to face Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, in their last home and IPL 2026 league stage game. The match is crucial as a win might take them to Playoffs qualification.
Ahead of the must win game, KKR head coach opened up another the tension in team setup. He stated that more than nervousness, the focus of the team is on playing best Cricket, the only thing that is in their control.
He said, “I try to keep things quite simple and focus on controlling the controllables. Often, when you come to this stage of the tournament, you think about the fact that if things are meant to be, they will happen. The important thing for us is that we have a game tomorrow, and the preparation we need to have to play a game of cricket. Whenever you are representing a franchise, whenever you are playing in the IPL, that preparation remains the same. The consequences are out of our control. What we can control is walking out tomorrow and playing the best cricket we can. So, more than nervousness, I think the focus is on preparation and playing good cricket tomorrow”.
Punjab Kings win yesterday against Lucknow Super Giants with help of Shreyas Iyer’s maiden IPL hundred took them to 4th place with 7 wins, to end their league stage. Rajasthan Royals, on other hand, who are currently on 14 points are all set to face an out of form Mumbai Indians today at Wankhede. A win will take them officially to Playoffs, eliminating both KKR and PBKS.
Nayar stated that he would focus on the game, “I try to watch every game in the IPL. You want to watch all teams and understand what they are doing because, as they say, it becomes part of your routine during these two months”.
KKR started the IPL 2026 campaign on a miserable note, being winless in first 6 games. However, things changed from the 7th game, and since then, in next seven matches, they managed to win six, staying in playoffs contention. The team has the history of incredible comebacka and winning titles as they did in 2012 and 2014. Speaking on the turnaround in the tournament, Nayar focused on consistency and trust on players, importance on staying strong in tough times.
He said, “As for the turnaround, I would put it down to consistency. I often talk about adversity, and when you are in difficult situations, the one thing a leadership group can do is remain consistent with the players. The messaging did not change much. The trust in the players did not change. The way we looked at our players did not change. When everything around you starts to feel like it is crumbling, you have to stay strong and stick to your core values as a team and as individuals. Sometimes, it takes time for people to understand their roles and what the team is trying to achieve. We talk about momentum being key in team sport, and once that momentum starts to build, belief starts to grow too. I think the hardest thing in the IPL is to remain consistent as an individual amid all the noise around you. As a group, we have tried to do exactly that”.
Nayar also emphasized on collective experience from several group of players like skipper Ajinkya Rahane, and others, who at some point of time had been part of teams that failed or were unsuccessful, one of the reasons that KKR began to succeed despite downfall. Creating a suitable atmosphere for youngster despite failures was another reason.
Nayar said, “I think the collective experience of everyone involved in the IPL has helped. Everyone in the support group, including Ajinkya, has at some point been part of teams that failed or were unsuccessful. Over time, you realise how difficult it is for a young cricketer to exist in an environment where he is constantly being questioned. I said this somewhere earlier as well, the journey of a cricketer is often underestimated. Not only because of what is said publicly, but also because of what they hear from family, personal coaches, and friends. There is always someone telling them what they should be doing differently. What we tried to do was create a bubble around them, where they never felt that we were disappointed in them or that they were failing to meet our expectations. When you speak about calmness, for me it was more about creating security, an environment where a player felt that regardless of the outcome, the pride we felt on day one remained unchanged. Being consistent as individuals, being consistent in conversations, even something as small as smiling at a player, those things matter immensely. I think people do not realise how much a smile on a bad day, or simply asking someone if they are okay, can mean to a cricketer. We tried to focus on the small things. You would have seen the team room buzzing all the time. We made sure people stayed together, did not isolate themselves, and that groups were not formed. Maintaining that atmosphere, keeping it sacred and pure is probably one of the hardest things to do in the IPL. With the support of the management, the support staff, Venky sir and Ajinkya, I felt we were able to hold our ground and keep the group together. That created a secure environment where everyone could be themselves because this tournament can really take a toll on players. I think that has been our biggest strength. Yes, things have gone our way at times, but regardless of the results, I believe the core responsibility of a support group and a coach is to maintain the quality of the environment and ensure players always want to come back and be part of the franchise. That sense of belonging matters. I think that is something we can hold our heads high about, irrespective of the outcome”.
However, if Rajasthan Royals defeat Mumbai Indians, the KKR vs DC clash would have no value as Rajasthan will be through the playoffs. Nayar however stated that every game in Cricket has value and everything matters, especially because a win for KKR will give joy to the fans all over the city. Nayar therefore stressed that despite any results, KKR’s attitude will never change.
Nayar said, “There is always value. Imagine a player scoring a hundred tomorrow. Every game of cricket has value. Everything matters, every number, every victory. You have to understand that everyone who buys a ticket and comes to watch the game tomorrow is coming to watch Kolkata Knight Riders. Every win brings happiness to the city, and the players understand that very well. Our fans care deeply about the franchise. So, it does not matter whether it is a dead rubber or not. The mindset will remain the same, to play the best cricket we can. Every individual in the team is not only representing the franchise but also representing himself. Everyone wants to leave an impression. The attitude will remain unchanged, regardless of the result”.
KKR, who suffered several injury issues lost Angkrish Raghuvanshi with a finger injury while keeping in Mumbai Indians game and has been ruled out for three months, therefore, the highest run scorer of KKR in this IPL wont feature ik vital clash against Delhi Capitals. Nayar however has shown trust in veteran Manish Pandey who will play at number 4. He was Player of The Match in last game against Mumbai Indians, scoring match winning 45 (33).
Nayar said, “From the start of the season, setbacks are something we have become used to. It has been that kind of season, with some unfortunate injuries. He (Raghuvanshi) has been such an integral part of the side, not only with the bat but also as a wicketkeeper behind the stumps. We have not spoken much about it because that is how good he has been, but it is a difficult spot to fill. You cannot simply replace someone like that. However, we have players like Manish Pandey, who stepped up and did his job at number three. Similarly, this becomes an opportunity for someone else to step up. It is an opportunity for one of our young wicketkeepers to come in and do something special. I feel this tournament is all about opportunities”.
KKR’s mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been integral part of the team especially on turning tracks. Despite breaking bones in two fingers and toe, he has shown his best level of commitment and performed accordingly. Nayar praising him stated that Varun is very emotional when it comes to KKR and teammates. He has urge to continue despite all hardships because of his love for the team and Kolkata city.
Praising Varun, Nayar said, “I do not think my words will do justice to it. For him to go through injury, endure a difficult start to the season, and then come back into form is a testament to how strong he is as a character. He has already broken quite a few bones during this tournament, specifically two fingers and now his toe. I always say the toughest characters learn to overcome pain and adversity, and that is exactly what Varun is. He is someone who is highly motivated and feels very deeply for the franchise too. He has been an integral part of the team, and I think he understands that. He is very emotional when it comes to this team and everyone associated with it. That is the thought process behind him wanting to continue rather than forcing himself to do so. Sometimes players are not keen to push through, but he has been very keen because of the love he has for the city and the franchise”.
Kolkata Knight Riders always had upper hand against Delhi Capitals in IPL history. Both teams have faced each other 36 times, out of that, KKR managed to win 20 and DC only 15. Their latest clash in this season was also dominated by KKR at Delhi, where the Men in Purple dominated DC by 8 wickets. DC have star studded lineup like Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidid, KL Rahul, David Miller and so on. Despite them being challenging, Nayar yet again focused on remaining consistent in the match besides respecting the opponents.
He said, “Any opponent in the IPL is a strong opponent. All teams are beautifully balanced. They have the best players in the world, the best Indian players, and young cricketers eager to make a name for themselves. So, there is no team in this format, especially in the IPL, that you can say is not strong. Every team is dangerous. Every team wants to perform at the highest level. The individuals you mentioned will always want to produce something special in every game. As I said, our approach has remained very consistent and we want to continue with that. We assess the opposition and try to understand them, but eventually, on the day, the team that plays better cricket usually wins. That is what we are trying to do. At the same time, respecting the opposition and the talent they possess is something we will always do and have always done”.
Saurabh Dubey, the left arm pacer, who has been a late inclusion in KKR lineup, picked up 3 wickets in 3 matches, including a crucial 2/34 spell against Mumbai Indians. Batters have failed to pick his swing, line and length. Despite not playing much domestic Cricket, mainly a Tennis Ball player, Dubey was spotted by Nayar in DY Patil Stadium where he had good DY Patil tournament. Nayar stated the reason he was brought late was because of his lack of experience and time for observation,”I think Saurabh has been tremendous. When he first came into our set-up, he was not originally part of the squad. I saw him bowl in the D.Y. Patil tournament and he had a very good competition. He has not played a lot of domestic cricket this season, so when we decided to take a chance on him, all the coaches felt he was bowling really well. I think every player has a time and place for when he enters the tournament. Sometimes, for someone who has not played much domestic cricket or experienced the IPL extensively, it helps to observe enough before stepping into the competition. I have always believed destiny plays a huge role in such situations. There will always be ifs and buts, but I feel Vaibhav had done a tremendous job for us until then. He won us a lot of games and bowled crucial overs. The way we viewed Saurabh was more as a new-ball bowler, while Vaibhav was more of an all-phase bowler. So, I think the timing was perfect, as it often is when things are meant to happen. Saurabh has been tremendous for us. He has shown a lot of maturity and bowled some very critical overs during the tournament. He should be very proud of what he has done, and everyone in the franchise is extremely proud of him as well”.
