"He Is Not Like Normal Person...": KKR Skipper Nitish Rana Lavishes Praises On Debutant Spinner Suyash Sharma

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) coach Chandrakant Pandit was happy with rookie spinner Suyash Sharma's "fighting attitude", saying it was very difficult for rival batters to pick the the 19-year-old from Delhi. Suyash made a huge impact in his debut IPL game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, picking up the prize wickets of pinch-hitter Dinesh Karthik, Anuj Rawat and tail-ender Karn Sharma as KKR thrashed Faf du Plessis' side by 81 runs at the Eden Gardens on Thursday night. "We have seen him (Suyash) at trial matches. He is very quick in the air, and it's very tough to pick him. It's just the inexperience; but he showed a fighting attitude," sald Pandit after the match.

The former India cricketer also complimented the batters for showing the courage to fight back and post a 200-plus total after they were down and out at 89/5, with Shardul Thakur smashing a 29-ball 68.

"It's a good win. The boys have shown the character. Looking at the initial stage, having lost wickets, and coming back to get 200-plus. We just expected the pitch to help the spinners. But you require enough runs. Shardul and Rinku Singh (46 off 33) counter-attacked the opposition," added Pandit.

KKR captain Nitish Rana said the plan was to put pressure on the rival batters in the middle overs and Suyash had come in handy.

"Even today, we collapsed (to 5/89), and credit to (Rahmanullah) Gurbaz (57 off 44 balls). It was an unbelievable innings from Shardul Thakur. People will talk about Shardul, but Rinku (Singh) held one end up, as we had planned.

"We had always planned not to give RCB batters pace in the middle overs. Suyash, playing his first match, bowled brilliant balls. Not even we have got to know him so far. He backs himself. It was always our plan