With Kolkata Knight Riders beginning its final camp here on Saturday, the countdown for the team's campaign in the DLF Indian Premier League season 3 began in right earnest. The first day's camp at the Jadavpur University 2nd campus was attended by eight players. Coach Dav Whatmore and assistant coach Vijay Dahiya oversaw the proceedings.
Later interacting with the media in the sidelines of a function to launch Nokia para cricket series, the coach professed the team would like to put his best foot forward in the ensuing season. ``Every opponent is a threat. The team has to put his best foot forward in every game,'' he said in reply to a question.
``This is the final camp and we need to coordinate with a number of players from time to time. We will have six or possibly seven foreign players in the roster. Not all will be available on a regular basis. We will have to choose from the list,'' he said
To a question, Whatmore said Shane Bond of New Zealand would be available from the third match onward for he would be busy till March 13. ``Obviously he will need some time to get accustomed to the condition here and I hope he will be ready for the third game,'' he pointed out.
On the lanky pace spearhead Ishant Sharma's recent not-so-impressive show, the coach said, ``Ishant is getting back into his rhythm. I can assure you he is on his way back to form.''
The coach also stressed the need to have a second wicketkeeper in the team. ``Wriddhiman Saha is our first choice because Brendon McCullum will be available only for the later part of the IPL. We need to have a backup in case of an injury to Saha,'' he felt.
Pakistan legend, Wasim Akram, is expected to join the team early next week.
