Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed Tim Southee for the remaining 31 games of the Indian Premier League (IPL). A franchise official has confirmed the signing of the New Zealand pacer on Thursday (August 26). Pacer Tim Southee, understandably, comes in place of Australian pace all-rounder Pat Cummins who has pulled out of the IPL second leg citing personal reasons.
Having featured in the IPL for six consecutive years, Tim Southee went unsold in the 2020 auction. His most recent appearance came in the 2019 edition when he turned up for RCB, finishing with an economy rate of 13 in the three games he played.
Tim Southee Playing For RCB © BCCI
Kolkata Knight Riders Signed Tim Southee
The 32-year-old right-arm pacer had previously played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai Indians (MI), and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). In 40 IPL games, he has picked 28 wickets at an economy rate of 8.47.
“Tim has been a strong player and has been the spearhead of the New Zealand team. In the UAE conditions, we hope he will be very effective,” a KKR official said.
The exact amount of signing has not been known but Pat Cummins was acquired by the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise for 15.5 crores in the 2019 IPL auction.
Tim Southee, who will be the third New Zealander in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad, was expected to be a part of the New Zealand team for their twin tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan but he did not figure in the final squad under Tom Latham. He will join the country’s young pacer, Lockie Ferguson, and top-order keeper batter Tim Seifert in the KKR squad.
Brendon McCullum Will Take Charge Of KKR In UAE
Kolkata Knight Riders head coach former New Zealand keeper Brendon McCullum, who has stayed away from Caribbean Premier League (which starts on Thursday), is expected to take charge of KKR in UAE.
“He will be back for the IPL,” said the official of KKR, which owns the Trinbago Knight Riders team in the CPL.
Kolkata Knight Riders are in seventh place in the IPL points table with four points with two wins in seven games. They are hoping Tim Southee will provide the impetus.
“He will be a backup to Lockie Ferguson. With his new ball skills, he should be very effective in the UAE conditions,” the KKR official said.
Pat Cummins, who was signed for Rs 15.5 crores for IPL 2020 season, has been a key member of their side, and this season he played all their seven games, taking nine wickets and scoring 93 runs, including a career-best 66 not out against Chennai Super Kings.
Pat Cummins picked 12 wickets in 14 games that included a 4-wicket haul in the 2020 IPL season. He bowled well in IPL 2021 picking 9 scalps in 7 games averaging 26.33 besides scoring 93 runs averaging 31. Pat Cummins’ KKR teammates Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier, and Tim Seifert had tested positive for Covid-19 leading to the indefinite postponement of IPL 2021.
Tim Southee is the third-highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket with 99 wickets in 83 matches and has been part of Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the past. He will now reunite with his former captain Brendon McCullum, the head coach of KKR.
Tim Southee happens to be a great addition and acquisition by KKR, as the Kiwi pacer is currently the third-highest wicket-taker in Twenty20 Internationals, having claimed 99 wickets in 83 matches at an economy of 8.39. In T20s, he has 224 scalps to his name from 201 at 8.30.
However, it is unclear if Tim Southee would get the nod ahead of his Kiwi teammate Lockie Ferguson. Although the latter is currently recovering from COVID-19, he is expected to recover on time and make it to the playing XI.