'It's about controlling emotions' - Warriors and Knight Riders coaches on where CPL 2025 final could be won or lost

Published - 21 Sept 2025, 17:57 IST | Updated - 21 Sept 2025, 17:57 IST

Guyana Amazon Warriors and Trinbago Knight Riders' coaches Lance Klusener (head coach) and Ottis Gibson (assistant coach), respectively, underscored the importance of staying composed ahead of the final of the 2025 Caribbean Premier League. Guyana and Trinbago will take on each other in the summit clash at the Providence Stadium on September 22.

Gibson noted that the team that manages emotions will be most likely win. He also shed light on the home support for Guyana serving an upper hand. However, he counted on the massive experience factor of Trinbago to take them over the line.

"Emotions - that's the beauty of sport, isn't it? I guess the team that handles those emotions the best will most likely come out on top. [These are] two of the best teams over a number of years now in the final. Guyana will have home advantage and a lot of crowd support behind them. But we, as Trinbago, will also carry a lot of travelling support. We've got a lot of experienced players that have won big finals before - IPL, World Cups, etc," Gibson was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

The former South African legend reiterated Gibson's sentiments while also remarking how skipper Nicholas Pooran's hunger to win the CPL for the first time will serve as a source of "extra motivation" for him and the team.

"It's just [about] controlling those emotions and trying to make sure they don't get in the way of making cricketing decisions on the move. Not really much more to add to that. Trinidad has been the spiritual home of T20 cricket that keeps churning out superstars. Pooran has evolved into a six-hitting machine, but he is yet to win the CPL despite playing 12 seasons of the tournament. The desire to win his home league has given Pooran extra motivation," Klusener added.

Trinidad are the most successful franchise of the CPL. They have won it four times. On the other hand, Guyana have been second-best a record six times. They will be aiming to break their winless jinx once and for all.