Playoffs still in our grasp, says Kallis

Kolkata, May 4 (IANS): Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Jacques Kallis said that the team still hadn’t given up hopes of reaching the playoffs and aimed to win the rest of their remaining games.

Kolkata kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the playoffs with a comprehensive eight-wicket win against Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens here Friday.

“The guys were always motivated and we have always applied ourselves, but unfortunately we were not winning games. We have not played as bad as people think this season.

“We just lost a few close games that could have turned our season around, but it is important to do what we are doing at the moment; that is focus on winning games. Who knows, if we still win all our remaining games, the semis are still in our grasp. Our first aim though, is to qualify for the playoffs and then take it from there,” Kallis was quoted as saying in the IPLT20 website.

Talking about Yusuf Pathan, who is yet to make a 50 for the Kolkata franchise but made a telling contribution (49 not out off 35 balls) in KKR’s victory Friday, he said, “Yusuf batted brilliantly. To strike a ball as well as he did on a wicket like that is commendable.

“That is the reason why Pathan is so important in our squad. It is good to see that he has got his confidence back towards the end of the season; probably the perfect timing for us and hope he helps us to win a few more games.”

Kallis pointed out that it wasn’t too difficult to adapt to the different formats of the game.

“I feel it is pretty easy. We change formats so often these days, it is just a matter of adapting and then changing your mindset. It is just a matter of getting two or three practice sessions for me to get into the mode of that particular format,” he said.