EXCLUSIVE
Follow UsBoth Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) go into the match having lost two of their previous game and would look to put their campaign back on track.
With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 entering the business end picking up every single point becomes all the more important. While RR and KKR have picked up six points so far, they have been less than convincing in the last couple of matches.
While RR do not have Trent Boult at their disposal through injury, for KKR the form of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy has been an issue. Narine has picked up four wickets at a strike-rate of 36, while Chakaravarthy’s four wickets have come 34.5 balls apart, which are not great.
Despite their indifferent form this season, former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith reckons, the KKR’s spin twins are going to be key to their success this season, especially with the pitch likely to favour spinners as the tournament goes on.
“Now we are moving into the second half the wickets are going to be a bit worn. So, the spin combination are going to be key in the second half. So, they need Chakaravarthy bowling well. They need that combination of Narine and Chakaravarthy to get going,” Smith said on Cricket.com
“Spin is going to start playing a bigger and bigger role now as the tournament goes on. As the wickets get worn, more and more games, we are going to see spin come to the fore. That combination is going to be key to their success.”
Death bowling has been a concern for both teams this season. While KKR have leaked runs at 11.7 (8 wickets) per over, RR are not behind at 11.6 (11 wickets).
“Closing the game down is important. Having a clear mind, not getting caught up in the pressure, having a clear plan with your captain so that you're bowling to your fields, you know what you're going to do,” Smith said.
“That's why we talk about the spin options. Can a Narine, can a Chakaravarthy pick up one or two wickets in the middle and take the pressure off the death overs? They have go enough experience with Russell, Cummins, Narine, Umesh Yadav.
“Coming into these final over, there should be more control in the KKR side. What worries is me that the Royals really don't have that experience in their side. That could be the change in this game between the two teams.”
While Ravichandran Ashwin has managed just one wicket in five games so far, Yuzvendra Chahal currently leads the purple cap charts with 12 scalps to his name. Smith does not see that as a probel, as long as they are doing what is asked of them.
“We spoke about this combination at the start of the season. This could be the trump card pairing for the Royals. We picked Chahal as the purple cap leader and he has bowled extremely well. He is in great form,” Smith, the most successful captain in Test history said.
“It's also the way Ashwin gets used. He gets used a fair amount in the powerplay, at the death, while Chahal is largely used in the middle period to break things open.
“It's about getting the job done that the captain asks you to do. As a pairing, as a combination, as the wickets start to dry out, the Royals have got a lovely little pairing in Ashwin and Chahal. I would certainly love to captain the both of them.”
Jos Buttler has been in excellent form this season having slammed a ton and a couple of fifties in his five innings so far. Along with Sanju Samson, how the duo will handle the likes of Narine and Chakaravarthy could very well determine which way the match could go, according to Smith.
“Buttler and Samson and the best players of spin that the Royals have. Hetmyer is the leading middle-order player in the competition as well. The work that Buttler and Samson do at least in the first 10 overs are key to allowing him to play with freedom,” Smith said.
“Where Royals will be disappointed is they have given Rassie van der Dussen the chance, he has not looked like he's going to get going. When you look at their top six in the batting line-up and you're counting on one or two players, that's not a good place to be at this stage of the tournament.
“There are still big question marks over Van der Dussen in this competition. Outside of Ashwin, Chahal, Samson, Buttler and Hetmyer there are a lot of questions over that line-up.”