Kolkata Knight Riders bowling coach Wasim Akram believes Gau­tam Gambhir’s captaincy has been key to the team’s winning run of 11 matches that began in the 2014 In­dian Premier League.

Kolkata are undefeated in the CLT20 and will be aiming for their third victory when they meet Perth Scorchers tonight.

Akram feels Gambhir’s attack­ing approach makes him a fantastic captain. “The credit for the success of any team goes to the captain first, the way he has led the troops in IPL and here in CLT20,” he said.

“I reckon he is one of the best captains in this Champions League because his psyche is to get wickets.

“The only way you can stop runs is to get wickets. If you have no­ticed, after six overs or eight overs, instead of bowling part-time bowl­ers he tries to get wickets. I think that is the key to his success.”

The Pakistani bowling legend praised the bonding in the Kolkata camp, which he says has been an­other factor driving the team for­ward. “The best thing about KKR is, it is like a family. We enjoy each oth­ers company and we support each other. The foreign players have also become a part of the team.

“Those who could not come due to injuries like Morne Morkel… there is a group formed on What­sApp, they send congratulatory messages after the match.”

Akram warns that the Scorchers are a dangerous side and the Big Bash champions have quality spin­ners in Ashton Agar and Brad Hogg, “Their spinners are more handy so far than the fast bowlers,” he said.