Local players are KKR's strength: Whatmore

Ahmedabad:

Kolkata Knight Riders coach Dav Whatmore on Friday credited the bunch of local cricketers in the team for their good start in third edition of the Indian Premier League.

"This year KKR has come out stronger because of lot of local talents, due to more domestic players in the team," Whatmore said here on Friday.

"More that 50 per cent of the players are from domestic circuit and they have played an important role this season," Whatmore said.

KKR has had a good start this year with victory in two out of the three matches that they have played so far and have only lost to Chennai Super Kings.

Whatmore also said that there was no injury worry on the eve of their match against Rajasthan Royals.

"Injury for a player is like a curse. This season there have been injuries in most of the teams, but fortunately we have been safe," he said.

With regard to the injury that Charl Langeveldt suffered, Whatmore said that he was doing fine and would be available. West Indian opener Chris Gayle also joined the team on Friday after missing the first three matches.

Saturday's match will be played at Sardar Patel Stadium at Motera.

Meanwhile, Gayle hoped to put up a good show on Saturday. Gayle, who has played only 14 Twenty20 matches, was not able to play much in the first season of IPL due to injury and in the second he had other commitments.

"I know that I have played less T20 matches. I might have missed the first three matches, but now I am here and plan to stay for longer time," Gayle said.