Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Anukul Roy has said he is determined to contribute 'in every department' as the three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions gear up for a must-win encounter against the Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens, with their IPL 2026 playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

KKR's Playoff Position

Having salvaged their campaign with five wins from their last six matches after a sluggish first half, Kolkata Knight Riders remain in a precarious spot in the race for the final playoff berth. Victory against Mumbai Indians is non-negotiable for KKR — but other results must also fall their way for them to advance. The pressure on Eden Gardens on match day will be immense.

Anukul Roy's Growing Role

Amid KKR's late-season resurgence, the 27-year-old left-arm spinner has quietly grown into a more significant role, providing balance with both bat and ball alongside the franchise's established spin options. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Anukul expressed satisfaction at cementing his place in the playing XI.

'I'm grateful for this opportunity. My performances with the ball and the bat have played a big role in getting me here, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it,' he said.

Consistency and Preparation

Now in his fifth season with KKR, Anukul credited improved consistency and structured preparation routines for his development into a more complete all-rounder. 'The preparation before heading into matches has stayed the same throughout my time with KKR. You are now starting to see the consistency in my game as well. Over the past two years, I've seen improvements in all departments of my game,' he said.

He elaborated on specific technical goals: 'While batting, I just focused on staying at the pitch for longer, and with the ball, I focused on reducing my economy as a bowler because it helps you get more wickets eventually too.'

Flexible Bowling Role

Anukul has emerged as a versatile bowling option this season, deployed across phases depending on match situations. 'It's all based on the situations that present themselves in the match. I step in whenever I'm called upon, be it the powerplay or in the middle overs. We constantly have these discussions about the bowling rotations within the team and with our coaching staff,' he explained.

Focus on Execution, Not Just Opposition

Despite the daunting challenge of facing a Mumbai Indians batting unit packed with experienced stroke-makers, Anukul insisted KKR's focus remains on what they can control. 'We primarily like to focus on what we do instead of only preparing for the opponent; we do analyse their strengths and weaknesses, but we like to prepare for the things that we can control on the pitch,' he said.

He also underlined the role of video analysis in the team's preparation: 'Yes, we do this before every game as we like to prepare thoroughly and focus on the details as much as possible; it's a huge part of our preparation.' With the playoff race entering its final stretch, KKR's ability to execute under pressure at home could prove decisive.