Former India captain and cricket expert Sunil Gavaskar wasn’t pleased with Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) strategy in their IPL 2020 opening game defeat against Mumbai Indians at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (September 23).

The legendary batsman believes that said Morgan and Russell should have ideally batted ahead of captain Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana when the KKR were chasing a mammoth 196-run target and they suffered a 49-run defeat against the MI on Wednesday.

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Gavaskar told AajTak: “When you're chasing a big target, then your big-hitters should come up the order. We saw this even in the Chennai Super Kings chase against Rajasthan Royals, after Sam Curran, MS Dhoni should have come. Likewise, if Andre Russell came at No. 4 and Eoin Morgan at No. 5, then it would have made a difference.”

He was also really surprised by the KKR head coach Brendon McCullum’s tactic to decide against sending its explosive and big-hitting all-rounder Andre Russell and white-ball specialist Eoin Morgan higher up the order against the MI despite being himself one of the most aggressive batsmen of his time.

He further explained, “When Mumbai Indians innings got over, the 10-15 minutes during the break, the coaches and the captain needed to get clear with their thoughts regarding whom to send according to the start they got. Their coach, Brendon McCullum, it's very rare to find an aggressive player like him. That's why it's surprising that Andre Russell and Eoin Morgan, who are considered T20 Kings, have come to bat lower down the order.”

Gavaskar concluded, “Yes, Nitish Rana's form last year was good. But you need to consider that it was a big ground and identify whether it will be Raina or Morgan and Russell who can clear it. I think they got their thinking wrong by sending Rana and Karthik ahead of Russell and Morgan.”

(With India Today Inputs)