Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players attend a training session in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy Twitter

Mohammad Abdullah, Staff Reporter

KKR bowling coach Kyle Mills is delighted with the perfect blend of experienced and youngsters in the team ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL).

Mills, the former New Zealand pacer, who came to the UAE after a few days of the arrival of the team, joined the squad after completing the mandatory quarantine period of seven days.

He was seen sweating it out with the players at the nets along with the other members of the coaching staff.

“The boys had been in lockdown and didn’t play any cricket. These are whole different dynamics we are experiencing. So, we have to get the guys up to speed,” said Mills about the player in a video, which was posted on team’s Twitter account, after watching the players live in the nets.

“Obviously, I have watched a lot of KKR matches in the last couple of years and also in the lead-up to the auction.

“But it’s great to get down on the ground and have those one-on-one chats. It’s my first day, so I’m really still building those relationships with the boys.

“We still have about two weeks before we get into it IPL. So, that’s nice,” said Mills after the first training session with team in Abu Dhabi.

“Technology is great. You can have those whatsapp chats and what not. But it is nothing like being on the ground. Those face-to-face contact and conversation. You can talk to the bowler. Like for example, today Sandeep Warrier and Shivam Mavi were talking between balls on what we are working on, what we are trying to achieve,” said Mills, who looked delighted on coming out of the quarantine finally and joining the squad.

“That’s my philosophy -- to not only bowling, but teaching and learning cricket as well. We have got a young group at KKR this year, which is very exciting,” said an upbeat Mills,” who has to chart out a bowling plan for the team according to the conditions in the UAE for the IPL.

“I guess all the teams are now on that same boat. We originally built our team around playing half the games at Eden Gardens, and the other half in venues around India. We considered all those combinations and conditions,” he opined on the last minute shifting of the IPL to the UAE.

The 13th edition of the lucrative IPL has been shifted to the UAE in the wake of rising cases of coronavirus in a country of one billion plus. IPL was originally slated to held in March-April.

“It’s exciting because these youngsters don’t have too many scars. They haven’t had too many lows. Young lads keep bringing in fresh air to any environment.

“So, it’s exciting to be coming into this group for the first time, surrounded by some young local boys and some heavy overseas guys as well like Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Sunny (Sunil Narine), and Andre (Russell). So, there is a lot of talent there.

“We have been getting the boys up to speed and the young guys, who have had some injuries in the past are eager and keen. So I told them ‘Hey guys we don’t need to climb the Mount Everest in the first week on the ground,’” he added.

“There are local boys, who are young and inexperienced. They have played a lot in India but have not played here in the UAE.

“So that is another challenge in itself. Playing in Sharjah is very different from playing here in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

“So getting the guys up to speed in those conditions and what type of deliveries and scenario we are going to face face and what we are going to need is part of my job.

He was full of adulation for the assistant bowling coach Omkar Salvi and Abhishek Nayar, assiatant coach of the KKR.

“Omi has been fantastic as he has been on the ground in India and I have been in New Zealand. Abhiskeh also have a great knowledge of the game. We have been in constant communication and dialogue over the past eight months,” he informed while commenting about the preparations of the team during the lockdown.

 “I had a few banters with Stephen Fleming, the coach of Chennai Super Kings. I told him Kolkata has some rookie coaches, what have we got to lose.

“Out of the coaches, for two of them, it’s like a home-coming. I think David Hussey and Brendon McCullum have been Kolkata boys from Day 1 of the IPL (in 2008). So, it’s great to have a fresh start with those two boys. “They have a different role now – from players to now being in their coaching elements. They are coming home. I think that, along with the fresh approach, brings a lot of excitement to the fans of KKR.

“Then we have Chris Donaldson. We are all coming in together for something that’s fresh and new. Abhishek Nayar is a very new coach as well and also making his way is Omi. So, we are not grumpy old coaches. We are young and keen in our roles and most importantly, we all get along as well,” he informed about the coaching staff of the team.

Meanwhile, KKR chief mentor David Hussey feels England’s World Cup winning captain Eoin Morgan will be a great ally to the skipper Dinesh Karthik and he can help the team win matches.

“He is a World Cup winning captain. He has captained England for a long time. Classy player. He will be a great ally for Karthik,” said Hussey.