KKR lost their campaign opener to the defending champions by 49 runs. And, Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian skipper feels that former champions should have asked Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell to bat higher up in the batting order.
Mumbai Indians outclassed Kolkata Knight Riders with sheer dominance. They put forward a mammoth total of 196 runs in front of KKR. And, Knight Riders didn’t get an expected start to their innings. After Shubhman Gill got out, Dinesh Karthik came out to bat at number three and was expected to bat at a higher strike-rate.
He got off to a good start. But, failed to convert it into a big knock. After the departure of Sunil Narine, KKR surprised everyone with their decision. They send Nitish Rana to bat ahead of big hitters like Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell.
Sunil Gavaskar takes a shot at KKR’s strategy against MI
By the time, Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell came out to bat, the game already went very far from KKR’s reach. Sunil Gavaskar said that every team should send their big hitters early in the batting order while chasing big totals. He looked unimpressed with KKR’s strategy that cost them the game.
“When you’re chasing a big target, then your big-hitters should come up the order. We saw this even in the Chennai Super Kings chase against Rajasthan Royals, after Sam Curran, MS Dhoni should have come. Likewise, if Andre Russell came at No. 4 and Eoin Morgan at No. 5, then it would have made a difference,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying to AajTak.
He added that it is surprising that KKR asked Nitish Rana to bat ahead of Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell. The former Indian batsman feels that how a side having a coach like Brendon McCullum can acquire a defensive approach.
“Their coach, Brendon McCullum, it’s very rare to find an aggressive player like him. That’s why it’s surprising that Andre Russell and Eoin Morgan, who are considered T20 Kings, have come to bat lower down the order,” he stated.
“Yes, Nitish Rana’s form last year was good. But you need to consider that it was a big ground and identify whether it will be Rana or Morgan and Russell who can clear it. I think they got their thinking wrong by sending Rana and Karthik ahead of Russell and Morgan,” he added.
