IPL 2021: No Role Left For Eoin Morgan’s Instinctive Power! Virender Sehwag Criticises KKR’s Code Word Strategy Against Punjab Kings

Virender Sehwag was not impressed by Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) code word strategy during their IPL 2021 match against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Kolkata Knight Riders analyst Nathan Leamon held a placard in the dugout that read ‘54’ while Kolkata Knight Riders were fielding in the match. He sought to send some message to skipper Eoin Morgan with the code. Sehwag feels that this code word strategy questions Eoin Morgan’s instinctive power as a skipper.

Kolkata Knight Riders won the match by 5 wickets. Batting first, Punjab Kings could only score 123-9 in 20 overs after no batsmen could really bat well in the match. Mayank Agarwal was the highest run-scorer with 31 runs as KKR bowlers restricted Punjab Kings to a low total on the scoreboard.

During the chase, KKR lost three quick wickets within the first 3 overs but Rahul Tripathi and Eoin Morgan played patiently to get the winning runs for Kolkata Knight Riders.

KKR Uses Cord Word Strategy From Dug-Out

Speaking over Kolkata Knight Riders’ ‘code word strategy’ during the match, Sehwag said that there is no role left for captain Eoin Morgan’s instinctive power in this way.

“There’s nothing to frown upon in this, but if they are dictating [the game] from the outside then in this way, anyone can be the captain right? There’s no role left for his (Eoin Morgan) popular instinctive power in the game, the power with which he won the World Cup,” said Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag also said that if the code aims to remind the skipper about something that he has forgotten or seeks to help him then there is no issue.

“I think one should definitely get help from outside but the captain himself has some instincts about which type of bowler to use when. I am not saying don’t take the help from outside because sometimes even the 25th player can give a good suggestion.

“But this suggestion should be only something which helps the captain and he thinks ‘Right, I didn’t think about it in this way’. Also, these things can help if he has forgotten something and the code reminds him of that then there’s no issue,” Virender Sehwag further said.

Eoin Morgan played a big role to bag victory for Kolkata Knight Riders against Punjab Kings after 4 consecutive defeats. Morgan played an unbeaten knock of 47 runs and did not lose his wicket until he reached the target.

Kolkata Knight Riders had earlier lost back-to-back matches against Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, and Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2021. With 2 victories and 4 defeats in 6 games, KKR holds 5^th spot in IPL 2021 points table.