IPL 2022: Wanted To Give Venkatesh Iyer An Option Against Spin - KKR Coach Brendon McCullum Explains Change In Batting Order For IPL 2022 Clash Against Rajasthan Royals

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mentor Brendon McCullum has given two purposes behind the choice to move Venkatesh Iyer into the middle order during the group’s pursuit against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2022 match on Monday.

The Kiwi legend made sense that they figured Aaron Finch and Sunil Narine could take advantage of the powerplay, given the batting-accommodating nature of the surface at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The KKR lead coach added that the coaching staff additionally believed Venkatesh Iyer should take on the spinners in the middle overs.

KKR verged on pursuing down 218 against RR thanks to a splendid second-wicket stand of 107 between Finch (58 off 28) and captain Shreyas Iyer (85 off 51). Be that as it may, a thrilling spell of bowling from Yuzvendra Chahal (5/40), which incorporated a hat-trick, saw Rajasthan grab a seven-run win.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Brendon McCullum Talks About Changes In Batting Order

Explaining the mix in the batting order during the pursuit, McCullum remarked:

“We thought that Narine and Finch at the top was a very good opportunity. We knew that the wicket was going to be good; it was going to be a high-scoring game. We know how Narine plays. Unfortunately, he didn’t face a ball tonight. It can happen sometimes, but Finch and Shreyas Iyer were absolutely brilliant at the top of the order.”

Talking explicitly about Venkatesh Iyer, who opened the batting in all the prior matches, Brendon McCullum added:

“We wanted to give Venkatesh Iyer an option through the middle against spin in particular – against (Ravichandran) Ashwin and Chahal. He’s a very good player of spin and, with one short side, we wanted to try and maximize that. So, that was the thinking behind it.”

Venkatesh was dismissed for 6, attempting to take on Chahal. His excusal started a batting breakdown as the leggie proceeded to take wickets off the last three deliveries of the over to take a hat-trick.

Brendon McCullum Backs Pat Cummins To Make A Comeback

A couple of games back, Pat Cummins got the spotlight when he equalled the record for the quickest IPL fifty. In any case, the Aussie has battled with the ball close by. On Monday, he went for 50 in his four overs. Guarding the pacer, Bredon McCullum supported him to lift his game. He responds:

“I actually thought Pat bowled really well today. He didn’t have a lot of luck and bowled at really key times and pressure moments. Sometimes you have got to look a little bit beyond the figures. Granted, he hasn’t had as much impact as he would like just yet. But we know he’s a quality player and I am sure he will come good in time.”

Before the match against RR, Cummins registered figures of 1 for 40 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and 1 for 51 against the Delhi Capitals (DC). KKR will now face table-toppers GT in their next game on the 23^rd of April. Brendon McCullum will be hoping for a better performance from his side.

Also Read: RR vs KKR: I Had To Take Wickets To Change The Result Of The Match – Yuzvendra Chahal