KKR Making It Predictable By Sending Sunil Narine As An Opener In Every Game: Brad Hogg

Brad Hogg, former Australian leg-spinner, feels that Kolkata Knight Riders [KKR] have taken away the ‘surprise factor’ from their ploy of slotting Sunil Narine at the top of the order, making the move predictable.

KKR pulled off a clinical seven-wicket win over SunRisers Hyderabad in the last game thanks to a batting masterclass by Shubman Gill [70* off 62 balls] and a whirlwind 17-ball 29 by England skipper Eoin Morgan. But their innings once again got off to a bad start as opener Sunil Narine once again failed to chip in and contribute with the bat.

Hogg reckons that KKR should keep Sunil Narine as a surprise weapon and they should send him for opening only when he has got a good match-up against an opposition bowler.

“KKR are too much dependent on Sunil Narine and Andre Russell in their line-up. Narine is opening the batting way too often. You need him as a surprise option every now and then when he has got a good match-up against an opposition bowler,” Brad Brad Hogg said on his YouTube channel.

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He is the KKR’s biggest weapon in the final five overs in the IPL- Brad Hogg on Andre Russell

Brad Hogg also went on to heap high praise on the West Indian swashbuckler all-rounder Andre Russell.  The former World Cup-winner added that for Russell to explode at the backend of the innings, the Knight Riders top-order must ensure that they give an ideal platform to Dre Russ.

“Also you have Andre Russell coming in the 12th over, you don’t want to have too much pressure on him with a slow run-rate when he comes to the crease. You want a run-rate which is at an acceptable level where he can give himself a couple of overs to get in, get adjusted and then bow away with the last five overs. He is the biggest weapon in the final five overs in the IPL,” Brad Hogg said.

Russell wasn’t required in the last game against SRH as Shubman Gill and Eoin Morgan sealed the deal for their side with a brilliant fourth-wicket stand. KKR will now lock horns with Rajasthan Royals on September 30 in Dubai.