Legendary Pakistani fast bowler Wasim Akram has issued a warning to Sunrisers Hyderabad regarding the formidable bowlers of Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of their highly anticipated IPL 2024 Qualifier at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
KKR topped the league stage with a record-breaking Net Run Rate (NRR) of 1.428, showcasing their dominance through outstanding performances in both batting and bowling. Their all-round excellence solidified their position as the team to beat.
On the other hand, SRH adopted a similarly well-rounded approach but with a touch more aggression in their batting. Despite their strong campaign, they now face the formidable challenge of KKR’s robust bowling attack.
In their previous league stage encounter at Eden Gardens, Shreyas Iyer’s KKR narrowly defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by 4 runs. SRH nearly chased down the daunting 209-run target but fell short by seven runs in the final five balls bowled by Harshit Rana.
Legendary pacer Wasim Akram lauded KKR’s bowling efforts throughout the season, emphasizing their knack for taking crucial wickets. He described KKR as a composed, confident, and dangerous team, highlighting their strong bowling as a key factor in their success.
“This is [bowling] is one of the main factors [behind KKR finishing on top of the points table]. There are wicket-taking bowlers. The teams that will take wickets will win the matches. If you see Chakaravarthy has 18, Harshit Rana’s 16, all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine have 15, and Mitchell Starc has 12. Starc single-handedly won them a game as well. They are going in the final as a calm, confident, and very dangerous side for sure,” Akram told Sportskeeda.
Akram, who previously coached KKR, pointed out that the team’s balanced aggression has been a key factor in their success.
“Almost everyone performed, they played Manish Pandey in one game and he also delivered. So, that shows that everybody is happy and confident. They have aggression, but they have controlled aggression. They are not cocky or overconfident,” he added.
The addition of Gautam Gambhir as a mentor has had a significant impact on KKR. His leadership experience, coupled with his ability to instill confidence, has inspired the team to play with fearlessness. Sunil Narine’s return as an opener has also contributed to their success.
Shreyas Iyer, as captain, has been commendable. His proactive approach in making bowling changes and setting field placements has been instrumental in KKR’s performance.
The ‘Qualifier 1’ match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 21. The winner will secure a spot in the final, while the loser will have another chance in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the ‘Eliminator’ match.
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