Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra feels two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders is on a roll and stated that the team is finding new heroes in every match. He also reckons the team will be benefitted if Andre Russell finds form against the Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 14.
Nitish Rana-led side will look to extend their winning run against 2016 champions at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium on Friday. Cricket-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra previewed the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad.
“Kolkata is a team on a roll. It seems they are a team with problems. Andre Russell’s bat hasn’t spoken at all till now. It looks like something is lacking in batting but Rinku Singh comes one day, Venkatesh Iyer comes another day, and now Nitish Rana has also scored runs,” Aakash Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.
Venkatesh Iyer played a swashbuckling knock of 83 runs off just 40 balls with a strike rate of over 200 against defending champions. Iyer played an important part in the last game as he stitched 100-run partnership of 54 balls with KKR skipper Nitish Rana.
Speaking on Iyer’s role in the team, Chopra feels he might be played depending on the situation of the match.
“Venky Iyer has batted well and played very well in two games. His batting order has been moved slightly up and down. He might continue to bat at No. 3, could open, or get pushed to No. 4.”
In the previous encounter, Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off an absolute heist as they chased down 205 to hand the defending IPL champions their first defeat of the season. Rinku Singh hammered Yash Dayal to all parts of the ground, as the Gujarat Titans pacer failed to execute his plan.
You Might See Anukul Roy In This Match – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra reckons that KKR will open with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Narayan Jagadeesan. Chopra wants to play Ankul Roy in the playing 11 as he believes he can be extremely valuable against Sunrisers Hyderabad with the lineup loaded with right-handers owing to the top order.
“Jagadeesan might come to open with Rahmanullah Gurbaz or Venkatesh Iyer might get a chance to open. You might see Anukul Roy in this match because the opposition team’s numbers against left-arm spin are extremely ordinary. Nitish Rana’s form has come back and Rinku Singh is unbelievable,” Aakash Chopra added.
KKR team has done well so far in the tournament–and they will look to maintain their winning momentum when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 14.