Jacques Kallis Interview: KXIP vs KKR

They kept a tight hold on the Kings XI Punjab batsmen but were given the charge by the lower-order, they lost their top-order early but fought back to stay in the game and just when they looked like they would scrape through to the finish line, and a mini collapse buried their chances of a win. 

Although Sunil Narine finished with a hat-trick, it was veteran cricketer Jacques Kallis who was the most economical off the KKR attack as they restricted the home team to a competitive total. The all-rounder finished with three for 24 including the wickets of Mandeep Singh and Manpreet Gony. Outwitting the batsmen is the South African’s mantra to successful bowling in T20 cricket. 

One of the best all-rounders to play the game, Kallis brings with him valuable experience to the team and enjoys sharing it with the youngsters. After losing a game ridden with highs and lows at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium the senior cricketer is looking forward to regroup and iron out the creases and get back to winning ways. 

While speaking to iplt20.com, Kallis reflected on the match, the format and KKR.

Excerpts from the interview:

On the match

It was probably one of those games where you need 52 off 42 balls, eight wickets in the hand you expect to win that nine times out of ten, so we are disappointed. It has probably been one of our weaknesses ... It is in the death in the third time that we have probably let ourselves down and so it is an area that needs to be addressed. 

On bowling in twenty20 and his spells today

You got to back your skill and try and bowl to your field. And then out guess that batter… That is what the twenty20 format is about. I have been bowling well lately so hopefully I can continue that, carry on helping KKR restrict the opposition. 

On the impact of claiming a wicket off the first ball and losing a wicket on the first ball

I don’t think it is too much. It is one ball of an innings, it has been interesting but like I said we just need to improve in all departments.

On whether wicket on the first ball boosts the team

It helps the team a little bit but it is a funny game, twenty20. One ball can change the game and one ball can’t change the game so there are nine other wickets to get. It does help us to get a wicket off the first ball to set the tone. 

On mentoring the youngsters

You have to try and help the youngsters along and pass on your knowledge. It is something that I enjoy doing. I have been playing the game long enough to be able to gain a little bit of experience along the way so if I can help the youngsters, it gives me great pleasure. 

On adjustments he had to make for T20 

It is about getting your mindset right whether it is Test cricket and then changing to twenty20 or the other way round. And then knowing your role and knowing your game and just enjoying whatever format you are playing (works). I really enjoy the T20 and I have worked really hard on my game to be successful at T20. 

It was just about getting to know my game in T20 cricket, (and working on) few extra scoring options which I have worked on, sort of worked on six – seven years ago and just being comfortable with the format and a slight change of mindset. 

On key to bowling successfully in T20

Just try to bowl to your strengths and knowing your strengths try and out guess the batter. And try and bowl to the field. Try to outwitting the batter at the other end who is trying to hit you out of the park. 

On the dearth of genuine all-rounders

That is a tough one. I think it is possible because of the amount of cricket that is being played these days. It’s so much that it is hard to be an all-rounder these days. But having said that there are one or two that are coming through, especially in the spinning all-rounders department. I always keep an eye to see who the next all-rounders are coming through. There are guys like Shane Watson who have done well. He has certainly improved as a cricketer and as an all-rounder. He is sort of the one guy who is standing out at the moment. 

On having maintained fitness while it is a concern for younger players 

I have been fortunate that I have been pretty much injury free. I have been lucky.... I have put a lot of hard work into my fitness. I have always had this workload from day one since I started playing cricket as a youngster as an all-rounder so I guess my body is just used to it. 

On what has helped KKR turning things around 

We know our home conditions pretty well. We are tough to beat at home and that is one good positive. And we have been pretty good at doing the basics, we didn’t do that tonight but that is one of the things we pride ourselves in, doing our basics better than the opposition. 

On the strengths of his team 

We have got great spinning options, especially in our own conditions at home. And our batting is quite deep, we have got good players and good mixture of aggressive and players that knock a ball around so when we get that get right we are a tough team to beat. 

On Sunil Narine and the off-spinner registering the first hat-trick in the sixth edition 

He was incredible! He is a match changer. He got the ball in the right areas and then knocked over three guys in three balls which is an unbelievable effort. He is a world class bowler and I don’t think it is the last time that we will see him getting a hat-trick. 

source: iplt20.com