Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) could not make it two in two against Gujarat Titans (GT) as they lost the home game comprehensively by seven wickets at Eden Gardens. While few moves from KKR were questionable, the team management stunned everyone when Shardul Thakur came out to bat at no.3 in the third over of the match. What baffled more was that Thakur did not bowl a single over in the innings.
In the post-match press conference, KKR opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz who smashed 81 runs from just 39 balls, was asked why Thakur did not bowl a single over to which he said, “I cannot answer or say anything on this. The coach and team management know better than me. It might be a special plan they discussed before the game.”
The move to promote Thakur up the order did not work as he got out for a four-ball duck in an attempt to hit Mohammed Shami's delivery out of the park. Asked about the reason behind Thakur's promotion, the Afghan batter replied, “Maybe Shardul likes to play up the order. It was the management’s call.”
Gurbaz was also asked whether Thakur was not fully fit to bowl to which he replied, “No, if you are not fit enough, then you will not play. It might be that the team doesn’t need him to bowl. The captain knows it better.”
Against Titans, KKR's spin trio did not fire. Varun Chakaravarthy leaked 42 runs from his quota of four overs including a 24-run over where Vijay Shankar hit him for three sixes. Suyash Sharma conceded 37 runs from his quota of four overs. He took a beating in his last over as well as David Miller hit him for two consecutive sixes. Sunil Narine took the wicket of Shubman Gill but could not stop Shankar and Miller.
Earlier Gurbaz carried KKR's innings on his back. Narayan Jagadeesan, Thakur, Venkatesh Iyer, skipper Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh failed to score at a good pace while Gurbaz smashed the ball all around the park. His 39-ball 81 was studded with five fours and seven sixes.
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