Happy to have started their title defence on the right note, Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir on Wednesday said the way his team chased down the tough total made them the deserving winners.
Replying to the Mumbai Indians 168/3, the Knight Riders notched up 170/3 in 18.3 overs to win the tournament lung opener by seven wickets at the Eden Gardens.
"It was a tough total to chase, and the way we chased showed we were deserving winners. Happy we have started the tournament on a high," said Gambhir after the game.
He praised pacer Morne Morkel who returned figures of 2/18. "The way Morne bowled, the way other guys bowled. Morne was exceptional."
Praising the Eden Gardens wicket, he said "We never knew how it was going to behave. It was different to the usual wicket we see in Kolkata."
"The way Morne bowled, the way other guys bowled. Morne was exceptional."
