Brad Hogg, the former Australian spinner was of the opinion that Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) will finish last in IPL 2020. He also reckoned that the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise would be much better at the death overs in IPL 2020, even though they have not made many changes in their squad.
Brad Hogg made these observations while responding to questions from fans in a video shared on his YouTube channel. He mentioned that KXIP overseas players are inconsistent and RCB franchise has a new staff which may change their fortunes at death overs.
Brad Hogg (Image Credit: Twitter)
Brad Hogg Says Inconsistency Of Overseas Recruits Could Mean KXIP Finishing Last
The Australian was asked if KXIP have a problem of plenty when it comes to the selection of overseas players in their side for the upcoming IPL. He responded that the overseas contingent of the Punjab-based outfit comprises mainly of match-winners, barring spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman of Afghanistan and pacer Chris Jordan of England, who have specific roles to perform.
“For me their overseas player contingent is all match-winners apart from Rahman from Afghanistan and Jordan. Those two have specific roles in this particular team and are quality bowlers.”
While naming all-rounder Glenn Maxwell of Australia, destructive opener West Indian Chris Gayle, and New Zealand all-rounder James Neesham as some of the examples, Brad Hogg reckoned that these players tend to not deliver the goods consistently.
“But the other guys there like Maxwell, Gayle and Neesham, they just have the odd standout games, they are not very consistent with what you want from an overseas player.”
Chris Gayle
Brad Hogg even suggested that Kings XI Punjab are likely to finish at the bottom of the points table in IPL 2020 because of the inconsistent performances of their overseas recruits.
“They are too much up and down. That’s why Kings XI are going to finish last.”
Chris Gayle has scored 4484 runs averaging a staggering 41.13 from 125 matches with as many as 6 centuries but has an inability to rotate the strike and fails to perform in every game. Australian Glenn Maxwell too, has scored 1397 runs from 69 matches at a below-par average of 22.9 besides taking 16 wickets averaging highly 38.18. James Neesham is relatively inexperienced in IPL having played only 4 matches.
Brad Hogg On RCB Having Addressed Their Death Bowling Concerns For IPL 2020
The death bowling of RCB has been a matter of concern for them over the years in the IPL. Brad Hogg was also asked if RCB have been able to solve their death bowling issues for this year’s IPL. He responded that there have been no major changes in the franchise’s death bowling resources with Indian pacers Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, and Umesh Yadav likely to perform that role.
“Well there is no real difference to their bowling attack from last year. They are going to have Saini, Siraj and Umesh Yadav doing the job at the death.”
The 49-year-old mentioned that the only noticeable change has been in their coaching staff, with the previous coaches preferring to shout instructions from the sidelines while their bowlers were bowling at the death overs which pressurized the bowlers more.
“The only thing which has changed is the coaching staff. Last year they had coaches on the sidelines, yelling instructions when they were bowling at the death. That puts too much pressure on the players.”
Chris Morris (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Brad Hogg signed off by stating that Adam Griffith who is the RCB’s new bowling coach for IPL 2020, would be able to extract the best from their players.
“Adam Griffith, the Australian bowling coach, is an astute coach and will have these three bowlers in the best frame of mind in this IPL and they will do the job. They will have a better year than last year.”
Apart from the change in the coaching personnel, RCB have spent 10 crores to acquire Chris Morrisduring the auction for IPL 2020. They would be hoping that the South African all-rounder can address some of their concerns about the death bowling.
