Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vice-captain Nitish Rana expressed optimism about star batter Shreyas Iyer’s fitness and leadership role in the upcoming IPL 2024 season. Iyer, who missed the previous season due to injury, has returned to the KKR camp with a back issue.
Rana, who led KKR in Iyer’s absence, acknowledged the challenges faced by the team last year. “We did not achieve everything we wanted, yet it was the greatest experience for me,” he said. Despite finishing seventh in the points table, Rana believes there is a renewed sense of determination within the team.
“This time, our team is very positive and you can feel it in the dressing room. There is a determination to win, which wasn’t so strong last year. Everyone is thinking about the trophy,” Rana added.
Regarding Iyer’s fitness, Rana expressed hope that he would be able to lead the team throughout the season. “Shreyas is back with the team and is quite fit. Of course, he had fitness issues in the past, but I hope I do not have to take up this responsibility again,” Rana said.
Rana also highlighted the strength of the KKR squad, which includes experienced players like Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Venkatesh Iyer, as well as promising youngsters like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rinku Singh.
“We have a good mix of experience and youth. We have a lot of match-winners in our team. We are confident that we can go all the way this time,” Rana concluded.
