Even though the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lost a few early wickets, batsman Rahul Tripathi and skipper Eoin Morgan steadied the ship and took their team home against Punjab Kings (PBKS) and ended their four-match losing streak in this edition of Indian Premier League (IPL 2021).
KKR opener Shubman Gill has not been amongst the runs this season and there has been no significant opening stand, that’s the reason former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar feels the Kolkata-based franchise should change their batting order.
IPL 2021: KKR break four-match losing streak with a clinical outing against PBKS
“Nitish Rana, in the years that he has been very successful for KKR, he has been batting at No.3. So, if Rahul Tripathi can open the batting, which he used to do earlier on for the other franchises, maybe that’s the way to go for him,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
According to the 71-year-old, Sunil Narine who has been batting in the middle order can be asked to open the innings.
“I think KKR have to make up their minds whether Sunil Narine opens the batting with Shubman Gill or Rahul Tripathi opens the batting. With Shubman Gill also struggling and not quite there; maybe there is a case for Tripathi to open with Sunil Narine,” he said.
It was a great game for skipper Eoin Morgan as a batsman as not only did his team win but he stayed till the end and scored an unbeaten 47 off 40 deliveries as KKR registered a five-wicket win.
After PBKS, the two-time champions will be taking on Rishabh Pant’s Delhi Capitals (DC) on Thursday (29 April) at the same venue in Ahmedabad.
(With Star Sports inputs)
