Great To Have Low-Scoring Games Amidst 250-275 Runfests: Moeen Ali

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) debutant Moeen Ali asserted that he is pleased to see wickets that offer a better balance between bat and ball, like the one in Guwahati on Wednesday (March 26), amidst belters where 250 seems to be par.

IPL 2025 was expected to be a nightmare for bowlers and it’s precisely turned out that way so far, with six scores over 200 in the first six games, with four of them being 230+ totals.

But the Guwahati surface in the RR vs KKR clash offered plenty of grip and turn for the spinners, which meant that the hosts posted just 151/9 in their 20 overs. In response, KKR got to the target comfortably, but they still were challenged and had to navigate tricky periods.

"India is a great place to bat. But on wickets like this, you aren't going to get 300, you probably aren't even going to get 200. It's great to have these games in between those (high scoring) games,” Moeen said after the game. 

“Big scoring games are great to see but it also gives a false sense of security, which is a bit too much. The game is developing fast and people are just fearless at the moment. The bowlers do have to come up with something, it is more important than ever before."

Moeen was not expected to play the RR clash but an illness to Sunil Narine meant that he stepped in last minute. And the England veteran did an outstanding job with the ball in hand, returning figures of 2/23 off the 4 overs he bowled. Moeen got the crucial wickets of two spin-bashers in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana, both left-handers.

"My job was to keep it tight, so that he can build the pressure and maybe get wickets. I'm used to bowling with someone who is better than me and has more mystery than me. My job is to bowl as tight as I can and hopefully that builds pressure for that person to then get wickets,” Moeen explained.

“Varun is bowling outstandingly well as we know and he is a brilliant bowler. He has improved so much over the last two-three years. It is amazing to bowl with somebody like that."

The ball of the match, one of the balls of the tournament so far, was the delivery Moeen bowled to Rana, which drifted in, pitched on middle and leg, turned sharply away and crashed into the left-hander’s off-stump. The 37-year-old explained what he did to produce the ‘magic’ delivery.

"That ball was a nice one. I was just trying to spin it as much as I can,” Moeen explained.

“I knew that there was a bit of pressure being built and I just tried to bowl in a good area, spin it as much as I can. I don't have the skill as other bowlers but my job is to contain as much as I can, not get hit for six over my head. 

“If they play good shots and hit me for fours and sixes, then I'm pleased with that. My skill is that I think like a batter, so I think what they think and it works in my favour."