Former Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Tom Moody urged Kolkata Knight Riders to play Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib-al-Hasan as one of their four overseas option in IPL 2023. Moody feels that the 36-year-old can play as the pure batter in that lineup and his bowling can be an additional benefit for his team.
Speaking to Espncricinfo, Tom Moody believes Shakib-al-Hasan is a capable batter who has good numbers in international cricket. Recently, Shakib Al Hasan became the 3rd cricketer in cricketing history to have 7000-plus runs and 300+ wickets in ODI cricket.
“Shakib Al Hasan is a capable batter. He has got some good international numbers. Why not finally put the onus on Shakib to be the overseas player that the team relies on a lot?” Tom Moody said.
Tom Moody urged Shakib to play the number 4 position for Kolkata Knight Riders as he can build the innings–and is capable of shifting the gears to finish the innings alongside Rinku Singh and Andre Russell.
“He has always been a fringe overseas player on the odd occasion when he has played. Back him at No. 4. He has got all the gears. Tell him that he is playing as a pure batter and his bowling is going to be a bonus because they have enough spinners,” Tom Moody added.
Litton Das, who will make his debut in the Indian Premier League was considered to play a vital role for KKR at the top order. Ahead of the IPL 2023, KKR suffered a huge blow by losing out their skipper Shreyas Iyer due to a back injury with Nitish Rana replacing him as the skipper for IPL 2023.
Sunil Narine Can Have An Impact Lower Down The Order – Tom Moody
Tom Moody believes that Kolkata Knight Riders will not open with Sunil Narine, as they would try to go with a proper batter at the top of the order, and feels the West indies spinner can make an impact with the bat at low down the order.
“I don’t think Sunil Narine will open. That experiment has run its course. A lot of teams in the IPL and around the world of franchise cricket have found a way to close him down. He can have an impact at seven or eight,” added Moody.
Kolkata had only 6 wins in the previous season under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer–and the season didn’t go as well as planned for the franchise. Kolkata Knight Riders will be looking to put a better display in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). While they had made it to the final of the IPL 2021, they could not even make it to the playoffs in the last season of the competition.
Kolkata Knight Riders, who won the championship in 2012 and 2014, will look to change their fortunes under the new skipper Nitish Rana and inspiring head coach Chandrakant Pandit, who is known as a domestic legend in coaching. Kolkata Knight Riders will play their opening game of IPL 2023 on April 1st against Punjab Kings in Mohali.