Kolkata: The selection of the coach for Kolkata Knight Riders seems to be hotting up with more and more candidates entering the fray, Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram being the latest addition.

Just a day after his name was thrown in for the post of KKR coach, Wasim Akram has said that he is keen to give it a shot.

The former Pakistan captain said he was scheduled to meet Shah Rukh Khan on Sunday to discuss the assignment.

“It requires a lot of patience and that is something I have acquired over a period of time. I have played alongside Sourav Ganguly and Chris Gayle. I will be able to pass on some skills and techniques with the on-field experience I have,” Akram told ESPN.

The man in the centre of it all, Sourav Ganguly spoke of his rapport with some of the men shortlisted for the job and his other roles on the sidelines.

Sourav Ganguly: “The KKR people have taken interview of lot of coaches. We have got some more to go on the next Sunday after which Shah Rukh and Joy will decide who the new coach is. There are definitely some big names and hopefully, we will get the right person.”

CNN-IBN: Wasim Akram has also joined the race apart from John Wright and Pravin Amre. Are you looking for a blend of foreign and Indian coaches?

Sourav Ganguly: “I am not too worried about the coaches. I am really worried about the team, what team we put on the park. I am spending a lot of time trying to get that right.”

CNN-IBN: John Wright and you had a very good time when he was the coach and you were the captain of the Indian team. So now, how are you looking forward to it?

Sourav Ganguly: “Well, let him get first selected. Let us not jump the gun. Obviously, I had a great relationship with John. He is a great man. He’s worked superbly with me as India’s coach.”

CNN-IBN: Did you suggest Wasim Akram’s name?

Sourav Ganguly: “I have a good relationship with Wasim and, with other people as well. Shah Rukh and Wasim had a chat. Wasim is a great bowler. I know him very well. So, he will be fine.”

CNN-IBN: You have been selected as the chairman of the Cricket Development Committee of the CAB. What sort of developments are you looking forward to?

Sourav Ganguly: “I have made a plan and hopefully, I will get them implemented. Implementation is more important. You can develop a whole lot of things but as long as you don’t implement them, it gets nothing. So once I get the official confirmation, I will try and implement them.”

CNN-IBN: How are you looking forward to IPL-III?

Sourav Ganguly: “We will just go and play. Past has got nothing to do.”
Source: cricketnext.in.com

Date – May 20, 2009
Result – Kolkata Knight Riders won by 4 wickets

In one of the biggest upsets in IPL season 2, Shahrukh Khan’s Knight Riders defeated Shipla Shetty’s Rajasthan Royals and thus eliminated the defending champions from the race. Today’s match though was a low scoring one but it hooked the viewers on the chairs as till the last over, it looked that it could be anyone’s game. Earlier Kolkata won the toss and elected to field first. With excellent bowling and fielding they got wickets at regular intervals. Royals never gained the momentum and in the end of 20 overs they could manage only 101 runs with Ojha’s 22 being the highest.

Rajasthan Royals
FOW:R Quiney (22-1, 1.1), S Asnodkar (28-2, 2.5), N Ojha (28-3, 3.3), J Botha (42-4, 5.3), N Patel (59-5, 9.2), Y Pathan (62-6, 10.5), T Henderson (62-7, 11.2), R Jadeja (92-8, 17.2), *S Warne (99-9, 19.3)

Kolkata Knight Riders had to chase just 102 for victory and it looked a very easy task. But at one stage it looked that Royals would get back and Kolkata Knight Riders might even lose this match. Kolkata Knight Riders were reeling at 45/6. But then came the savior for them. Laxmi Ratan Shukla and Ajit Agarkar’s duo played sensible cricket and with one’s and two’s took the team towards the door step of victory. In the last overs’ some poor fielding by Rajasthan Royals handed the Kolkata Knight Riders a well deserved victory.
FOW:S Ganguly (9-1, 1), *B McCullum (9-2, 1.1), Y Singh (21-3, 5), B Hodge (30-4, 7.1), D Hussey (37-5, 9.1), S Shaikh (45-6, 11.3)

Match Highlights
* Rajasthan Royals innings
* Rajasthan Royals: 50 runs in 7.4 overs (47 balls), Extras 2
* Drinks: Rajasthan Royals – 61/5 in 10.0 overs (YK Pathan 9, RA Jadeja 0)
* Rajasthan Royals: 100 runs in 19.5 overs (122 balls), Extras 5
* Innings Break: Rajasthan Royals – 101/9 in 20.0 overs (MM Patel 5, A Singh 1)

* Kolkata Knight Riders innings
* Drinks: Kolkata Knight Riders – 38/5 in 10.0 overs (LR Shukla 7, SS Shaikh 0)
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 50 runs in 12.2 overs (75 balls), Extras 1
* 7th Wicket: 50 runs in 42 balls (LR Shukla 39, AB Agarkar 9, Ex 2)
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 100 runs in 19.2 overs (118 balls), Extras 5

With this win, Kolkata Knight Riders save dsome prestige but Royals are now out of the championship.

Date – May 18, 2009
Result – Kolkata Knight Riders won by 7 wickets

Chennai Super Kings Innings
Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to bat first. They got to an excellent start and Knight Riders bowlers were smashed to all corners. The excellent start was thrown away as Chennai Super Kings lost both openers due to run outs. But this did not deter them from playing aggressive strokes. Raina and Dhoni then took the charge and played exceedingly well to help team get past the 150 run mark. Every batsmen of Chennai Super Kings contributed and thus in the end they were able to post a huge total of 188/3 in 20 overs.

FOW:P Patel (59-1, 6.1), G Bailey (78-2, 9.1), S Raina (152-3, 17)

Chennai Super Kings Innings Highlights
* Chennai Super Kings: 50 runs in 5.5 overs (38 balls), Extras 8
* 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 38 balls (PA Patel 23, GJ Bailey 21, Ex 8)
* Drinks: Chennai Super Kings – 83/2 in 10.0 overs (SK Raina 14, MS Dhoni 1)
* Chennai Super Kings: 100 runs in 12.2 overs (78 balls), Extras 14
* 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 38 balls (SK Raina 27, MS Dhoni 21, Ex 3)
* Chennai Super Kings: 150 runs in 16.5 overs (107 balls), Extras 16
* SK Raina: 50 off 36 balls (3 x 4, 3 x 6)
* Innings Break: Chennai Super Kings – 188/3 in 20.0 overs (MS Dhoni 40, JA Morkel 21)

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings
Kolkata Knight Riders playing just to save some prestige got a herculean task to chase 189 in 20 overs lost Ganguly for just 4 runs. But on the other hand McCullum was in a punishing mood and he along with Hodge got the score past 100 in 12th over. McCullum scored 81 off just 48 balls and put Kolkata Knight Riders in the drivers seat. Kolkata Knight Riders required 25 runs off the last 2 overs with 7 wickets in hand. Hodge played really well and hit 2 sixes. In the last over Kolkata Knight Riders needed just 6 runs and it proved to be a cakewalk
At last they were able to win a match in this IPL – 2 by 7 wickets

FOW:S Ganguly (34-1, 4.4), *B McCullum (124-2, 14), D Hussey (133-3, 15.2)

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings Highlights
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 50 runs in 5.5 overs (36 balls), Extras 1
* BB McCullum: 50 off 21 balls (9 x 4, 2 x 6)
* Drinks: Kolkata Knight Riders – 83/1 in 10.0 overs (BB McCullum 65, BJ Hodge 9)
* 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 35 balls (BB McCullum 37, BJ Hodge 9, Ex 4)
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 100 runs in 11.4 overs (71 balls), Extras 5
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 150 runs in 16.6 overs (103 balls), Extras 5
* PA Patel Kept the wicket after 16 overs
* BJ Hodge: 50 off 35 balls (3 x 4, 2 x 6)
* 4th Wicket: 50 runs in 22 balls (BJ Hodge 29, WP Saha 21, Ex 0)

Date – May 16, 2009
Result – Deccan Chargers won by 6 wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings
Kolkata Knight Riders lost the toss and were sent to bat first. They got to a good start and all the top order batsmen contributed well to the team score. Hodge was the highest run scorer with 48 runs followed by Hussey 43. Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen put up a competitive score and its now upto bowlers to defend it.

FOW:*B McCullum (27-1, 4.3), S Ganguly (85-2, 14.5), B Hodge (117-3, 17.5), W Saha (152-4, 19.2), D Hussey (158-5, 19.4)

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings Highlights
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 50 runs in 9.6 overs (61 balls), Extras 3
* Drinks: Kolkata Knight Riders – 50/1 in 10.0 overs (SC Ganguly 14, BJ Hodge 13)
* 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 56 balls (SC Ganguly 25, BJ Hodge 24, Ex 1)
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 100 runs in 15.5 overs (96 balls), Extras 4
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 150 runs in 19.1 overs (119 balls), Extras 7
* Innings Break: Kolkata Knight Riders – 160/5 in 20.0 overs (Mashrafe Mortaza 2, AB Agarkar 0)

Deccan Chargers Innings
Deccan Chargers pulled off a stunning victory today against Knight Riders. It looks nothing is going well for Kolkata and it will take a divine intervention which would make them win. Today’s match was open for both teams as Deccan Chargers got to a good start. The batsmen played well and set up the stage for a nail bitting finish. In the last over it looked Deccan Chargers will loose but Rohit Sharma turned the tables by hitting sixes and making sure Deccan Chargers win by 6 wickets.

FOW:*A Gilchrist (68-1, 9.2), H Gibbs (85-2, 12.3), T Suman (116-3, 16.2), A Symonds (128-4, 17)

Deccan Chargers Innings Highlights
* Deccan Chargers: 50 runs in 5.4 overs (35 balls), Extras 2
* 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 35 balls (AC Gilchrist 32, HH Gibbs 16, Ex 2)
* Drinks: Deccan Chargers – 71/1 in 10.0 overs (HH Gibbs 25, TS Suman 1)
* Deccan Chargers: 100 runs in 14.1 overs (86 balls), Extras 3
* Deccan Chargers: 150 runs in 19.3 overs (120 balls), Extras 6

Man of the match – R Sharma

Date – May 12, 2009
Result – Royal Challengers Bangalore Won by 6 Wickets

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings
Kolkata Knight Riders were asked to bat first after they lost the toss to Royal Challengers Bangalore. Ganguly and McCullum opened the innings for them and today Kolkata Knight Riders were playing more for the prestige. Ganguly and Gosh got out cheaply but after that it was no seeing back by Kolkata Knight Riders. McCullum was firm on one end and Hussey on the other. Together they scored runs and had a very good partnership. McCullum was the star today for Kolkata Knight Riders as he scored 84 unbeaten runs and helped the team to score a good 173/4 in 20 overs.

FOW:S Ganguly (13-1, 2.3), A Ghosh (21-2, 4.2), D Hussey (91-3, 13.2), A Mathews (134-4, 17.3)

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings Highlights
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 50 runs in 8.1 overs (49 balls), Extras 0
* Drinks: Kolkata Knight Riders – 69/2 in 10.0 overs (BB McCullum 25, DJ Hussey 33)
* 3rd Wicket: 50 runs in 36 balls (BB McCullum 16, DJ Hussey 34, Ex 0)
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 100 runs in 14.4 overs (90 balls), Extras 6
* BB McCullum: 50 off 48 balls (5 x 4, 2 x 6)
* Kolkata Knight Riders: 150 runs in 18.6 overs (116 balls), Extras 6
* Innings Break: Kolkata Knight Riders – 173/4 in 20.0 overs (BB McCullum 84, WP Saha 10)

Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings
Chasing the target of 174, Royal Challengers Bangalore got to a very good start as both openers crossed the 50 run mark in 7th over. But just when it looked Royal Challengers Bangalore were in total control, they lost quick wickets and were reduced to 74/3 in 11th over. But on one end Taylor played a very magical innings and he was the one who kept the hope alive for Royal Challengers Bangalore. In the end Taylor (81 runs of 33 balls) proved to be too good for Knight Riders as he helped Royal Challengers Bangalore win the match by 6 wickets

FOW:J Kallis (58-1, 8.2), J Ryder (63-2, 9.2), R Uthappa (74-3, 11), R Dravid (122-4, 15.4)

Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings Highlights
* Royal Challengers Bangalore: 50 runs in 6.5 overs (46 balls), Extras 5
* 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 46 balls (JD Ryder 21, JH Kallis 24, Ex 5)
* Drinks: Royal Challengers Bangalore – 70/2 in 10.0 overs (RV Uthappa 5, LRPL Taylor 5)
* Royal Challengers Bangalore: 100 runs in 13.2 overs (86 balls), Extras 6
* LRPL Taylor: 50 off 24 balls (5 x 4, 2 x 6)
* Royal Challengers Bangalore: 150 runs in 17.5 overs (115 balls), Extras 8
* 5th Wicket: 50 runs in 23 balls (LRPL Taylor 39, MV Boucher 13, Ex 2)

Man of the Match – R Taylor