Mission accomplished: Gambhir after winning IPL

Zeenews Sports Bureau

As the Kolkata Knight Riders team saw their glorious maiden victory, captain Gautam Gambhir shed his gambhir mantle and spoke about the historic win for KKR. ALSO READ: Match Report» I As it happened » I The Knights who dethroned Super Kings » I KKR’s road to glory» I Debate: Is Gambhir a better captain than Dhoni?» I IPL Final: In Pics» Gambhir said, “Only one word comes to mind, mission accomplished. We knew we had the side to go all the way. People had questioned our middle order but I knew they would come good when it really mattered. Balaji is our unsung hero, it was tough for him to miss out on this match before his home crowd and we were playing for him. It is tough to go out and chase 190 against a home side that is defending their title. It just shows Bisla`s character that he could go out there and play such an innings. I think it is the team that makes a captain look good. I wore my pads through the innings as a superstition but then again the guys played some brilliant cricket. I want to thank Kolkata for their support and I hope we have made them very happy tonight.” Runners-up Chennai Super Kings, in a display worthy of true sportsmen, took their defeat just as a match. Analysing the situation, Captain MS Dhoni said, “Well it was a big total, that`s why we wanted to bat first. I think in the second half the ball started coming on to the bat better. But someone needed to bat well and Bisla and Kallis gave KKR a really good partnership. Cricket is a game of plus ten and minus ten, if you lose you think you were short of ten odd runs. I think the batsmen did really well in the first half; it is just that the individuals from the other side did better and won. It got close at the end but there was no reverse swing and that`s why it got tougher for the bowlers to bowl those wide yorkers at the end. I am proud of the way we played.” Man of the Series Sunil Narine, who has been a wizard with the ball, said, “It has been a pleasure playing here. I have been talking to my parents a lot and the people in Trinidad have been backing me. Hopefully I can be picked for the England series and hopefully I can go there and do well.”