‘Having someone with so much experience’ - Kartik Tyagi on importance of having Dwayne Bravo as coach at KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) young pacer Kartik Tyagi has opened up on his key learnings from veteran all-rounder and team's bowling coach Dwayne Bravo while also sharing his experience of meeting franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan ahead of their upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on April 9.

Tyagi highlighted how working closely with Bravo has helped him gain a deeper understanding of death bowling and match situations, crediting the former West Indies pace-bowling all-rounder for passing on valuable insights from his vast experience in the shortest format of the game.

"He has a lot of experience in the T20 format, so everyone knows his skillset. But it's about understanding which skill to use and when to use it. Sometimes you go in with a plan, but under pressure--especially if you're playing after a long gap--it's not easy to think clearly,” he said at a presser.

“That's when having someone with so much experience around helps a lot on the field. They guide us on what to do, when to do it, and at what moment to bowl," the pacer continued.

The young pacer also spoke about the special moment of interacting with Shah Rukh Khan, revealing how motivating it was for the squad to meet the Bollywood superstar ahead of an important fixture.

"We met Shah Rukh Khan, and he motivated us a lot. He told us that we should always strive to be the best, and that really inspired us," Tyagi said.

The pace bowler's remarks come at a crucial stage for the three-time IPL champions KKR as they gear up to face Lucknow Super Giants at home, with the franchise looking to build winning momentum in the ongoing IPL 2026 season.

The head-to-head record between KKR and LSG reflects a clear edge for the latter in their IPL encounters so far. Out of the six matches played between the two sides, the Lucknow-based team has emerged victorious on four occasions, while the Ajinkya Rahane-led unit has managed to win only a couple of clashes.

This dominance gives the Rishabh Pant-led side a psychological advantage heading into their upcoming clash, although KKR will be eager to close the gap and improve their record in this fixture.