Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Gautam Gambhir has suggested the franchise to adjust Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell effectively to bring the best out of them.
While talking on Star Sports, Gautam Gambhir was inquired if the power-hitter Andre Russell’s great form in CPL is an encouraging sign for KKR. The former cricketer was assertive that Windies would be great in the upcoming IPL season if he maintained his confidence. As per him, few bowlers could trouble Russell.
“Obviously, if you are in great hitting form, quality of cricket and quality of bowling might be different but Andre Russell is a confidence player. If his confidence is high, then the bowling does not matter,” Gautam Gambhir said.
“There are might be two or three bowlers in the IPL who could trouble him but not beyond that. I don’t see bowlers other than probably someone like Jasprit Bumrah who can actually trouble Andre Russell,” he added.
Gautam Gambhir, who has led KKR to two IPL wins, wants to see how the franchise utilizes Russell’s monstrous hitting after the inclusion of Eoin Morgan in the KKR’s squad. As per him, they can be flexible while positioning the two.
“If someone goes in such big-hitting form to the IPL, I want to see how KKR uses him. Because now they have Eoin Morgan as well, who is in great form. So if you have two such international players, who are in great hitting form, left-handed and right-handed, then you can be a little flexible,” he said.
Gautam Gambhir suggestion to KKR:
The World Cup-winner has advised that Dinesh Karthik-led KKR should not place Russell below No.5. He added that according to the match condition, the allrounder should be sent to bat. He said that it is not necessary to send the Windies after Morgan.
“So, KKR should not send Andre Russell below No.5 in the batting order considering the form he is in. And the number should not matter, the overs should matter. Batting position is an overrated thing, six balls can change the entire match in T20 cricket.”
“So at times it is possible, that you have got such a good start, that you can send Russell even ahead of Morgan. It is not necessary to send him after Morgan. You can send him at No.4 as well, it should be an over-oriented batting lineup rather than saying that you will not send him above No.5 or No.6,” Gautam Gambhir said.
Morgan is currently busy playing the T20I series against Australia while Russell is playing in the ongoing CPL. Both are expected to join the KKR squad ahead of the IPL 2020 scheduled to begin from 19th September.