Sunrisers Hyderabad fast bowler Ashish Nehra has been ruled out of the rest of the Indian Premier league T20 tournament, head coach Tom Moody said here on Tuesday.
"Ashish Nehra won't be fit for the remainder of the tournament," he said on the eve of the IPl eliminator clash between Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders at Chinnaswamy stadium here.
The veteran India pacer was forced off the field with a hamstring strain in a league match against Rising Pune Supergiant on May 6.
Nehra's absence will be a sizable blow to the side, considering the devastating form the opening batsmen Chris lynn and Sunil Narine are in.
The veteran bowler has been injury-prone. He has featured in only 8 of the 17 fixtures last season, while this season he has played 6 out of 14.
Moody on Tuesday said Kolkata Knight Riders' recent slump in form would not have any bearing on the eliminator as they have enough experience of playing in the knockouts. Kolkata have lost four matches out of their last five matches.
"KKR's form over the past two weeks is not going to be relevant tomorrow. They have got a lot of experience in that team. There are lot of players who know how to win play-offs. So, we make sure that we focus on us and play with the same mindset we have been playing so far," Moody said on the eve of the eliminator.
Moody refused to pick any individual player who can prove to be a nightmare for the defending champions on Wednesday, saying there are a number of them capable of troubling his team.
"There are enough good players in their side. KKR have been champions twice. They have got some high class players, so there is no individual that I would like to pick. They are good and that is why they are playing the eliminator."
On KKR captain Gautam Gambhir, Moody said he has great respect for him for having led the side to title win twice.
"I have got a lot of respect for Gambhir as a captain and as a player. He has led a very successful franchise and led from the front. We expect him to, by nature, he would not give any room because he is competitive character as a leader and as a batsman. He is a terrific leader for KKR," he said.
Moody also said he has very fond memories of last year's eliminator, in which they had defeated KKR.