Former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar has suggested Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to include Lockie Ferguson in their playing XI for their upcoming matches in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) after the franchise lost four games in a row in the tournament.
He believes that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has a great batting line-up, but they are not playing with their full potential, but when it comes to the bowling attack, they should have a match-winner like Ferguson in their attack, saying KKR must fix their playing XI as quickly as possible to avoid embarrassing defeats in the ongoing IPL 2021.
He was also surprised to see Ferguson not featuring in KKR XI so far in the IPL 14.
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Agarkar stated: “For a batting line-up which is full of talent, full of ability, they're just not playing well enough. You could excuse a couple of pitches in Chennai and say 'Oh, those were tough wickets maybe and that's why they didn't get their rhythm', but here (in Mumbai) you've got no excuse.”
He further explained, “Maybe this wasn't a 200-run pitch but sure they (KKR) have enough talent to get to 160, which then almost becomes a match-winning total. And if you take my opinion, they should take a look at someone like Lockie Ferguson to come into the playing XI, whether it is at the expense of an Eoin Morgan or Pat Cummins or a Sunil Narine. He's someone who'll win you games on these pitches.”
Agarkar signed off by saying, “Lockie Ferguson, when he came into that team last season in the UAE, you could see he provided something different to the bowling attack. He had a lot of raw pace and wicket-taking ability. As good as their (KKR) seamers are, I can't see them blowing teams away. Ferguson, on his day, has that ability.”
Meanwhile, South African fast bowler Dale Steyn opined when asked if KKR's decision-making was an issue and if it was affecting the players in the IPL 2021, “In the first (IPL) game they played (this season), they had some amazing strategy. Since then, some of the strategies and plans haven't come off and now players wonder what their role is.
With KKR, we've seen a lot of different kinds of strategies, a lot of different tactics, and out-of-the-box thinking. And it hasn't quite worked for them since the first game. It's strange, some of the decisions they have been making.”
Steyn signed off by suggesting KKR replace a struggling Shubman Gill with Sunil Narine at the top or “adopt the bold strategy” of dropping Pat Cummins and bringing in Ferguson for a game or two “to see if there is any kind of difference he can make” in the IPL 14.
(With IANS Inputs)
