Andre Russell’s play among the four foreigners in the Kolkata Knight Riders team in the IPL is almost always certain. The Caribbean all-rounder is not in the Kolkata XI against Delhi Capitals today due to injury.
Many have seen the possibility of Shakib Al Hasan playing in his place. He is the sand of hope. Yet Shakib did not have a place.
Shakib has not been in the Kolkata XI since the start of the second round of the IPL in the United Arab Emirates. Kolkata has played three matches in the UAE so far.
In these three matches, Kolkata replaced Sunil Narine as the spinning all-rounder. Before the IPL was postponed in Corona, India played the first three of the seven matches played in Kolkata. Narine played the next four matches.
Considering the caste and ability of the all-rounder, Narine cannot be compared with Shakib. But in the first three matches of Kolkata, Shakib could not meet the expectations. 3 matches total 36 runs, maximum 26 and 2 wickets for 61 runs in bowling. Kolkata then put this star all-rounder of Bangladesh.
Narine took 6 wickets in 8 innings at an economy rate of 6.69. Average 26.58, strike rate 24.0. Shakib took 2 wickets at an average of 6.10 runs per over in 3 matches. Average 40.50, strike rate 30.0.
Looking at the batting, Narine has performed worse than Shakib. The Caribbean star managed to score only 10 runs at an average of 2.50. In other words, Narain is ahead in bowling, considering this, Kolkata has played him in these matches.
Even today, the team management of the franchise team has kept Narain in the XI. The team had the opportunity to play Shakib in the foreign quota as Russell could not play. New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee made his debut for Kolkata in place of Russell.
The wicket of Sharjah Cricket Stadium is slow. Meanwhile, Saudi pace and swing-friendly wickets are very effective. Before the match with Sharjah’s wicket, Delhi’s Rishabh Pant said, ‘The wicket is slow. 150-160 runs will be a good score.
Many may think that Kolkata had a chance to benefit more by playing Shakib in place of Saudi in this slow wicket. However, the Kolkata team management also has room to counter-argue.
Kolkata assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has explained that Shakib will not play during the match against Delhi. The captain thought it could be difficult to play three spinners here. Saudi has been taken thinking of the pace.
On the other hand, although Shakib’s batting ability is’ proven ‘, Saudi has been kept ahead because of his bowling, Nair said,’ Of course, he (Shakib) is a proven performer in such conditions. But we wanted to play an extra pacer who could bowl in the power play. ‘
In all, Kolkata is playing a total of five bowlers – three fast bowlers and two spinners. Tim Southee, Lucky Ferguson and the famous Krishna have been replaced by Sandwip Varia, who is managing the pace department in Kolkata. Both are varied bowlers in the spin division, which is effective and tested in T20 cricket.
Sunil Narine has no shortage of variety, with him being a leg-spinner and a googly-skilled Varun Chakraborty. Delhi’s top five batsmen include three devastating left-handers – Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmeyer. Kolkata may not want to take the risk of playing left-arm spinners against them on small boundaries in keeping with the recent practice of cricket.
