IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra gave his take on Kane Williamson’s tactics against KKR© Twitter
Andre Russell was the star of the show as Kolkata Knight Riders held their own, at least on paper, for a spot in the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL) playoffs with a 54-point win against SunRisers Hyderabad at MCA Stadium in Pune on Saturday. Before taking three wickets with the ball in hand, Russell also crushed an unbeaten 49 on just 28 deliveries to take KKR to a commendable total of 177/6. He was especially sassy in the last over of KKR’s innings when SRH chose to go for the unconventional and bowl-off spinner Washington Sundar. Russell crushed the hapless Sundar for three sixes, with 20 runs from the over.
Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra was unimpressed with Williamson’s tactics and recalled that the SRH skipper had chosen a spinner – Jagadeesha Suchith – in the 20th over in the previous game between the two teams at Brabourne Stadium and he was also punished by Russell.
“Kane the captain, I think, that’s the check too. Twice now, against the same unit. Jageesha Suchith threw the last one over at Brabourne Stadium and here it is Washington Sundar. I mean, how?’ said an annoyed Aakash Chopra on Star Sports after the game.
“And this is Kane Williamson, who is arguably one of the better cricket brains in the world, but has now twice missed the mark, and that too against Andre Russell,” he said.
“That’s like sending a lamb to a slaughterhouse. What do you get? You get slaughtered, that’s it,” he said of the move to send Washington Sundar in the 20th.
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In the previous game, Russell had scored an unbeaten 49 and left Suchith with two sixes and a line in the 20th to help KKR reach 175. But on that occasion, SRH managed to drive the total down.
This time, however, Russell’s 3/22 helped limit the Williamson-led side to 123/8.
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