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‘Not at the races’ – New Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan reacts to Mumbai Indians defeat as IPL campaign stutters


Eoin Morgan has replaced Dinesk Karthik as Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain (Picture: IPL)

New Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan admitted his team were ‘not at the races’ during their emphatic defeat to defending Indian Premier League champions Mumbai Indians.

Kolkata were reduced to 61-5 in Abu Dhabi on Friday before Morgan (39*) and Pat Cummins (53*) counter-attacked to take the side to 148-5.

A 94-run opening partnership between Quinton de Kock (78*) and Rohit Sharma (35) ensured Mumbai made light work of the chase, eventually winning with eight wickets and 19 balls to spare.

England World Cup hero Morgan, who has replaced Dinesh Karthik as Kolkata’s IPL captain, said: ‘We weren’t at the races today.

‘We got a score on the board to bowl at but the way Mumbai started, it was tough to stop them.’

Kolkata’s defeat leaves them fourth in the IPL standings, while Mumbai have overtaken Delhi Capitals at the top of the table.

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit said: ‘It’s special to win as comprehensively as this when chasing. It gives us a lot of confidence.

‘I guess now teams batting second will win most of the games. That’s what I feel. The trend is changing.’

South Africa star Quinton de Kock was awarded the Man of the Match award and said: ‘In the last game I was disappointed not to finish the match for us.

‘[Head coach] Mahela Jayawardene had a couple of words with me. He can come hard at you if you do something ordinary. So I had to rectify that.’

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