KKR vs RR: Sunil Gavaskar Unhappy With RR's Decision To Bat Shimron Hetmyer Late In The Innings

Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar criticized Rajasthan Royals for sending Shimron Hetmyer to bat late in their innings.

On Monday, Kolkata Knight Riders put brakes on their five-match losing streak with a seven-wicket win against RR at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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Shimron Hetmyer’s firepower late in the innings took RR to a respectable score

KKR captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and asked the Royals to bat first. IPL 2022 Orange cap holder Jos Buttler managed 22 runs in 25 balls before holing out to Shivam Mavi off Tim Southee’s bowling after the powerplay.

RR skipper Sanju Samson scored 54 in 49 balls at a below-par strike rate of 110.2 to provide impetus after the loss of openers.

Riyan Parag, who was sent ahead of Hetmyer in the batting order, hit 19 runs in 12 balls, including two sixes and a boundary.

Parag and Samson fell in quick succession before Hetmyer, who came to bat in the 18th over, blazed 27 off 13 balls to cruise RR to a sizeable 152/5.

Even if a wicket falls in the 11th over, get him out there: Sunil Gavaskar on Shimron Hetmyer

Gavaskar wasn’t pleased with RR team management to hold back Hetmyer for the slog overs. The former Indian captain reckoned West Indies flamboyant player’s promotion in the batting order.

“People get these labels. ‘Finisher’. It means you have to come only in 14th or 15th over, that’s not right. The man is in form, even if a wicket falls in the 11th over, get him out there,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports during the innings break.

Nitish Rana’s unbeaten 48 anchored the chase while Rinku Singh’s 23-ball 42-run cameo helped KKR overhaul the moderate score with five balls to spare.

Skipper Shreyas Iyer also played a sensible innings of 34 in 32 balls to set the tone for the chase.

Early in the game, KKR bowlers bowled well to restrict their formidable opponents to a below-par score. Southee picked a couple of wickets while Umesh Yadav, Shivam Mavi, and Anukul Roy picked one wicket each.

Also Read: KKR vs RR: Brendon McCullum Praises Rinku Singh’s Performance, Saying, “He Needed To Make A Statement, And He Made It”