IPL 2021: They Played Four Different Bowlers To Start With - Ashish Nehra Criticises KL Rahul For "Messed Up" Bowling Strategy
Updated - 19 Apr 2021, 02:09 PM
Former India bowler, Ashish Nehra slammed KL Rahul for his bowling strategy in Punjab Kings’ loss to Delhi Capitals on Sunday in Mumbai. After winning their first game against Rajasthan Royals by a whisker, Punjab has lost their last couple of matches and is in a familiar bottom half position in the points table.
They managed to put up a challenging total of 195 but it was chiselled down by Delhi opener Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan. Ashish Nehra is unhappy with the way KL Rahul used his pacers in the powerplay.
He points out the Rahul started off the bowling with medium-pacer Arshdeep Singh, instead of the much-experienced Mohammed Shami and Jhye Richardson or even the big-money signing, Riley Meredith, who is the quickest pacer in their attack.
The Australian was brought as late as in the 11th, till then Dhawan and Shaw had already put Delhi in front; Meredith struck with the wicket of Steve Smith, but it was late till then.
“See, there are a few things which every player wants to do in this format. You like to bowl well, bat well, field brilliantly. You have good or bad days, it’s a common thing in this game. But there are certain things which are in your control, at least that you can do,” Ashish Nehra told Cricbuzz.
“You didn’t give early overs to your most expensive overseas bowlers. Meredith came after 10 overs and picked the wicket of Steve Smith in his first over. Even Shami bowled four overs in four different spells. You preferred Arshdeep to begin with. So, where will you control the game from – frontend or the backend?” a befuddled Ashish Nehra added.
If such is the strategy, then even KL shouldn’t open from next time: Ashish Nehra
The 41-year-old sarcastically suggests that even KL Rahul shouldn’t open and they should instead send the all-rounders and bowlers up to bat. Ashish Nehra points out that Punjab had their bowling plans completely disarranged as they used 4 different bowlers in the first 4 overs of Delhi’s chase – Jalaj Saxena, the off-spinner, bowled ahead of Richardson and Meredith.
Punjab have finished their Mumbai leg, and with a single victory in 3 games, they move to Chennai to take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday.
“If such is the strategy, then even KL shouldn’t open from next time. Either they send Jalaj Saxena, Shami or Shahrukh – whomsoever may they want. So, Rahul, as a captain, needs to think and sit down with Anil Kumble to discuss because they need to come up with a strategy that I didn’t understand today.
“PBKS messed up their bowling plans. They played four different bowlers to start with. Such things are mostly done by those sides who lack resources. So, I think, that’s the biggest mistake they committed,” the World Cup-winning seamer elucidated.
Tagged:
IPL 2021 KL Rahul Punjab Kings (PBKS)
