Kolkata. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have once again demonstrated their commitment to making a meaningful impact beyond the cricket field with their remarkable ‘Shahoshi Rani’ initiative. This heartfelt program focuses on empowering women and girls from underprivileged communities, celebrating their courage and supporting them to help build brighter futures.

At the heart of this initiative is a simple yet powerful belief: ‘Life is not a game of fate. It’s a game of Korbo, Lorbo and Jeetbo.’ KKR has partnered with organizations to support brave women who embody this spirit – the ‘Shahoshi Ranis’ who are fearless, strong, and full of hope.

Venky Mysore, CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders, shared during the Press Conference ahead of the 8th edition of their Knight Golf charity event: “The overarching goal was always very specific with keeping women empowerment in mind.” He emphasised that while there’s much work to be done, making a difference ‘one initiative at a time, one person at a time’ can transform lives.

Through partnerships with NGOs like Hope Kolkata Foundation and Shreeja India, KKR is focusing some key areas, including promoting sports for underprivileged girls and supporting women’s upskilling for financial independence. Women from underserved communities in Kolkata are receiving training in tailoring and beauty services, helping them become self-reliant. In an initiative that has a direct impact on the community, tribal girls are being trained to be community educators, who now teach first-generation learners in remote villages. Meanwhile, girls from remote villages in Birbhum district are being trained in football, breaking barriers and dreaming big.

Also present at the event was cricket legend and KKR mentor Dwayne Bravo, who advised the young women present at the event: “It is very important to have that self-belief. Don’t worry about your financial background. Don’t worry about where you come from. But focus your mind on what you want to achieve and what you want to accomplish in life.” He emphasized that everyone has ‘their own inner champion’ and encouraged them to pursue their goals with unwavering determination.

Through the Shahoshi Rani initiative, KKR is not just supporting women and girls who are taking bold steps toward a better future – they’re celebrating their courage and resilience. The program serves as a powerful reminder that with support and opportunity, these fearless women can overcome any obstacle and create a lasting impact in their communities.

Bengaluru. As Royal Challengers Bangalore navigate a mixed campaign in the ongoing IPL season, captain Rajat Patidar opened up about the team’s inconsistent performances at home, the challenges posed by unpredictable pitches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, and his evolving role as a leader.

Speaking to the media ahead of the team’s upcoming fixture, the skipper acknowledged that RCB haven’t been at their best in home conditions.

“We have not played good cricket in our home matches. The toss factor has been discussed often, but that’s not in my hands,” he said. “Yes, the wickets have been a bit tricky and unpredictable this season, but that’s no excuse. We’ll look to adapt to the conditions as quickly as possible.”

Focus Beyond the Toss

While the toss has often played a pivotal role in determining match outcomes at Chinnaswamy, the RCB leader stressed the importance of mindset and execution regardless of conditions.

“It’s not like losing the toss means half the battle is lost. It’s out of our control. What matters is how we perform when batting first or second,” he explained. “As players, we focus more on making the most of the situation we’re given, rather than dwelling on the toss.”

Putting Home Defeats Behind

Asked about the team’s ability to bounce back from home defeats during away games, especially in unfamiliar conditions, the captain emphasized a forward-looking approach.

“In a tournament like this, with back-to-back matches, it's important to stay in the present. We’ve learned from our mistakes, but we don’t dwell on past losses. Each game is a new opportunity, and we focus on delivering our best on the day.”

Strategic Use of Impact Player

Shedding light on the team’s tactical use of the Impact Player rule, he highlighted the decision to bring in Manoj Bhandage during a recent match against Punjab Kings.

“We had lost 3–4 early wickets, so we needed a batter in the middle. That’s why Manoj was brought in, and I believe it was the right decision. We needed a strong total to defend, and that change was aimed at strengthening our middle order.”

Tricky Surfaces and Shot Selection at Chinnaswamy

The skipper also addressed the challenges of batting on the current surfaces at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, which have reportedly behaved unpredictably this season.

“Shot selection becomes crucial here. The pitches are a bit two-paced and the bounce varies, which gives bowlers some assistance. As batters, we need to choose our shots wisely and adjust quickly to what's in front of us.”

On Pitch Preparation and Curator Collaboration

When asked about pitch conditions and whether the team has communicated with curators, he maintained a balanced view.

“The curators are doing their job and trying their best. As players, we must adapt to whatever pitch we get. There’s no room for excuses—we have to adjust and perform.”

Leading the Franchise: A Learning Curve

On a more personal note, the captain reflected on his experience leading RCB this season.

“I’m really enjoying the role. It’s a great learning process. We have a strong leadership group and experienced players who offer valuable inputs, and that has helped me grow as a leader.”

As the league enters a crucial phase, RCB will hope to find the right balance between adapting to conditions and executing their strategies effectively—both at home and on the road.

Ahead of their upcoming match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings Assistant Coach Brad Haddin addressed the media during a pre-match press conference. In his conversation, he emphasized the team’s focus on drawing motivation from recent victories, ensuring continuous improvement, and building momentum as the tournament intensifies.

Punjab Kings recently became the team to successfully defend the lowest total in the history of IPL, as they beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 16 runs in their last match.

Sharing how such thrilling encounters and victories help the team in gaining confidence, Haddin stated, “I think it reinsures everything that we’re doing; the playing group starts to trust. And wins like that, as you’ve seen the other night, the way we got ourselves back into the game was special. The players have started to believe that they can win from any situation.”

However, despite the fact that the team’s batting lineup could only put 111 runs on the board in the last game, the Assistant Coach spoke about the strengths of the unit and how they are prepared to avoid such circumstances in the future.

“The one thing we have is a really dynamic batting line-up, and we want our players to have clear minds. They all know their individual roles; they know if they get things right, they can take the game away from the opposition. So it’s really important from our point of view as coaches to allow them.”

“They train well, they do everything they need to do, they are prepared well. But when they go out there, it’s about clearing your head and executing. You have to be brave to go deep in this tournament, and that’s the mindset we want the players to have,” he added.

Given that the Kings’ next match is at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Haddin also underscored the team’s strategy of adapting to different wicket conditions.

“The one thing you want to do when the conditions are different is trust your game, and everyone will have different ways to get through that. Some will take the game on, hit in the air, try to hit the ball off their length, others will run hard. And the one thing we’ve said to our players is we make sure that they understand what their role in their game is,” the former Aussie cricketer explained.

He further added, “We have a clear game plan in the way we want to play and the style that we want to play, but it’s important that the player knows in themselves what their strengths are, so they can take the game on.”

Punjab Kings will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 18 at 7:30 PM.