IPL 2022: Chopping and changing isn’t ideal – Tim Southee on KKR’s top-order

 

In the nine matches, KKR hasn’t been able to find the right opening combination and as they haven’t been winning consistently, they have been pushed to make too many changes. Aaron Finch and Venkatesh Iyer were given the opening onus against Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Thursday but they could manage three and six runs respectively.

KKR have struggled to get going at the top of the order, which has led to their downfall in the ongoing season. The previous season’s runners-up have lost their last five matches as they haven’t been consistent enough with the bat.

Meanwhile, only Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana scored 42 and 57 respectively but the rest of the batters couldn’t get going against Delhi Capitals. In fact, there were six single-digit scores from KKR batters, including three ducks.

“It’s hard when you haven’t had the wins you wanted. After a big auction, we are still trying to find the right combinations. In a lot of the games we’ve come close, but ended on the wrong side of them,” Southee was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.

“We’ve tried a few opening combinations and there are no bad players in the IPL, they’re all class acts. The guys who’ve opened, have pure class as well. So, it’s just about guys finding form and running with guys who’ve found form.

“The chopping and changing nature isn’t ideal, but that happens when you aren’t winning a lot of games,” the New Zealand pacer added.

Ajinkya Rahane, Aaron Finch, Venkatesh Iyer and Sunil Narine have not been consistent at the top of the order and thus KKR is not getting off to good starts, which is putting them on the backfoot.

Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer urged his batters to play freely and forget about the past matches, which they have lost.

He said in the post-match presentation, “We need to stick together, play some fearless cricket, not be conservative with the bat. Five more matches remaining, we need to play well, show belief and give something back to the team and the management, forget about the past, start fresh, and back your instinct.”

KKR will next face Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Monday.