Even though Kolkata Knight Riders have the home advantage going into today’s game, Mumbai Indian’s skipper Rohit Sharma feels his team feels equally at home as they did when winning their maiden title at the same venue two years ago.
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“We have always felt confident here. If you look at the records, we have done really well here,” Rohit said. “First game of the season is very crucial so we have to start well, whether we bat or bowl first.”
There has been talk of the Knight Riders preparing slow pitches to aid their spinners, but Rohit believes it’s “fair” if the hosts make wickets that suit them.
“I see no reason why a team should not use the home advantage. KKR are doing the same and play according to their strength, which is fair I guess. When you’re away from home all odds will be against you,” said Rohit.
The India batsman also stressed on the importance of starting the tournament on a good note, as making a comeback is not always easy in a tightly-packed schedule.
Rohit Sharma has joined Simon Taufel at the umpires’ workshop. He’ll talk about player management & captain’s role. pic.twitter.com/3DaoZKbi4S
— Shirin Sadikot (@ShirinSadikot) April 4, 2015
“It’s a long tournament, you always have a chance to come back but it’s not easy, so it’s important to start well and take the momentum forward.
“It gives you a lot of confidence and you can build on your strengths.”
Rohit, who broke the ODI record for the highest score when he smashed 264 in his last appearance at the venue against Sri Lanka last year, said he is glad to be back at the ground that has given him many happy memories.
“You don’t break records every day. That innings will remain in my mind definitely. It will give me confidence.
“But it’s April now, it’s a long time. I would like to stay in the present. I will take that confidence into the game. I know the conditions here really well,” he said.
The Mumbai captain also tried to downplay the impact Kolkata spinner Sunil Narine is expected to have on the match, given the Eden Gardens has generally been a haven for the slow bowlers.
“He has got the clearance and will want to prove a point. But it’s not just him. There will be 16 more overs that will be bowled to us.
“That will be equally crucial. We have to look at their overall bowling unit, which looks very good. We will focus on the entire bowling unit rather than just one person,” he added.
