Kolkata Knight Riders Skipper Gautam Gambhir Gives Credit to Team for Thrilling IPL 7 Title Victory
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir said that his team always fancied the chance to win against Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League-7 final as Chinnaswamy is a small ground to defend.
- Press Trust of India
- Updated: June 02, 2014 10:55 am IST
An elated Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir on Sunday said that the triumph was even sweeter as not many people gave them a chance after the first seven matches in IPL this year. (Read: Kolkata beat Punjab by 3 wickets to clinch 2nd IPL title)
"Where we were after first seven games, not many people thought we would be here," Gambhir says. "Boys absorbed a lot of pressure, a lot of credit needs to go to the team," the teamman in Gambhir came to the fore once again. (Highlights)
Gambhir said that they always fancied the chance to win as Chinnaswamy is a small ground to defend. (Celebration pics)
"This is a ground where it is very difficult to defend.
We wanted to get it down to 5 overs, 50 or 60 to get. Manish played a fantastic innings, Yusuf chipped in, and Chawla hit that important six. Wriddhiman also played an unbelievable nnings but Manish was fearless." (Read: Manish Pandey, Kolkata's Knight in Shining Armour)
Man-of-the-match Pandey said that winning IPl was like "icing on the cake" after winning Ranji Trophy, Irani Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.
"We have got four achievements, Ranji Trophy, Irani, cherry on the cake was the IPL," Pandey said.
The man who hit 94 off 50 balls said that he was confident of performing in a crunch game.
"I'm very optimistic, and I love to play the crunch game.
We got 10 in the first over, and that was the time I thought, if we kept doing that, we'll get 200."
"Orange Cap' winner Robin Uthappa described the feeling as "surreal".
"I'm at a loss for words. I'm happy I've contributed in a meaningful manner. If I have to pick one innings, the one against Mumbai Indians, because I played with a broken toe, and I broke through a physical barrier."