Last three wins have prepared us well for playoffs: Katich

Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Simon Katich today said his team is looking to ride the new-found momentum when it takes on Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League Eliminator here tomorrow.

Kolkata suffered back to back losses to Mumbai Indians that included their heaviest defeat in the IPL when they were humiliated by 102 runs at home to slip out of top-four.

But the Dinesh Karthik-led side scripted a remarkable turnaround posting the highest total of the season -- 245/6 -- en route to winning three on the trot to clinch a playoff berth for the sixth time.

"To be able to put that behind mentally, go back and be able to regroup is testament to the group and character of the team. We would like to think that it would hold us in good stead tomorrow night," Katich told reporters at Eden Gardens today.

"It's always a different feeling in the playoffs because you know there's no tomorrow. We can't afford to have a bad night. But we have been in that situation in last three games really with the position we put ourselves into after back-to-back losses to Mumbai.

"The way the guys have adapted has been excellent and the belief in the group has been very good as well. The tough part starts now."
Terming Russell a big-match player, Katich said: "He got us into the contest here... He is a big match player and we expect he is going to be ready to go for hopefully what is a big week if we can get the job done tomorrow night."
"He's certainly learnt lot in these seven weeks about the group and the way we play. His batting has been outstanding, he's been on the top of his game. We have been very lucky from that point of view."