IPL 5: Bayliss hopes KKR batsmen come good vs RCB

Bangalore: Kolkata Knight Riders suffered consecutive defeats in the first two matches of IPL 5 due to their batting collapse and coach Trevor Bayliss Monday said his boys would look to reverse their fortunes by building partnership against Royal Challengers Bangalore here on Tuesday. Kolkata lost by eight wickets to Delhi Daredevils in their opener and then succumbed to a 22-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in their last match and Bayliss admitted that the poor batting show by their top-order has let the team down.
"We have been talking about players having to build partnerships. If we put up partnerships, we will have wickets at the end," Bayliss told reporters at a pre-match press conference here. "We have to bowl and field well against a side boasting of Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli." Bayliss said that the team management would sit and decide on picking the best team to play against RCB. "Best team will give best chance for us to win," he said.


Asked whether KKR were contemplating to blood in Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for the match, Bayliss said the team management would probably decide Monday night or just before the match. Despite a poor start in the fifth edition of the IPL, Bayliss said the players are quite upbeat and are on the right track. "We are on the right track. The players are confident that the IPL is a long competition and there was a chance to bounce back," Bayliss said. "Most of the teams in the competition will go through a little bit of a low. Teams have bounced back too."
Asked whether they are thinking to promote Yusuf Pathan up the order, Bayliss said though it was an option for the time being he will come to bat at his usual position as the Baroda dasher has a finisher's role to play. "His strength is against spin and I don't think sending him up the list would force the opposition to introduce spin. His role is of a finisher," he said.