Kolkata Knight Riders’ batter Nitish Rana is confident of scoring 600 runs in the upcoming Indian Premier League. Rana led KKR in the previous season in the absence of injured Shreyas Iyer. However, the left-hander will now be free of any captaincy pressure as Iyer will take back the baton.
Rana scored 413 runs in the previous season at an average of 31.77 and a strike rate of 140.95, including three fifties. The southpaw has scored 2594 runs in 105 IPL matches at an average of 28.82 and a strike rate of 135.25. Rana has all the IPL experience under his belt and would be determined to prove his mettle.
“Everyone wants to play for the country and many players will have it in the back of their mind, but we have to stay in the present. I too want to get selected for the World T20 squad, but at this moment I am thinking only about the IPL. I believe I can get 600 runs in this tournament and I will be aiming for that,” Rana said in an interview with the Times of India when asked about his T20 World Cup and IPL aspirations.
On the other hand, KKR broke the bank for Mitchell Starc as they roped in the Australian for a whopping amount of INR 24.75 crores, making him the costliest player in IPL history. Rana added that the huge price tag won’t affect Starc as he has all the experience under his belt.
“Starc is too experienced to let the price tag affect him. We had been missing a death bowler and he has filled up that spot. He knows what needs to be done. In fact, I feel he will be one of our main performers this time. Of course, in T20 cricket, every bowler goes into a match knowing that he might go for runs, and Starc is prepared,” Rana said.
“Starc won’t have much support as KKR’s other pacers are quite inexperienced. We have three spinners and want them to control the game. That doesn’t mean we have not paid attention to the pace department,” Rana added.
Shreyas has been troubled by his back injury in the recent past and Rana added he would be ready to take the captaincy band if the situation arises.
“Shreyas is back with the team and is quite fit. Of course, he had fitness issues in the past and we cannot take anything for granted. I hope I do not have to take up this responsibility again, as we are hoping Shreyas leads in all the matches. Having said that, if a situation arises where I have to wear the captain’s band again, I am ready for it. I was made the captain last year and that was the biggest thing for me. Although we did not achieve everything we wanted, yet it was the greatest experience for me,” Rana said.
KKR will begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 23.
