Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar has suggested a new opening pair for Kolkata Knight Riders seeing the inconsistency in their openers, Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana. They have just added one fifty-plus partnership in the six games that they have opened together. Moreover, both have looked woefully out of touch in the games that they have batted together. Rana was out for a first-ball duck against Punjab Kings while Gill scored nine off just 8 balls.
In terms of runs scored Gill has scored 89 runs in six innings with a best of 33 against Mumbai Indians. Rana, on the other hand, 186 run with a best of 80 in KKR’s campaign opener.
Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar while talking to Star Sports has suggested a new opening combination for the two-time IPL champions. He said that Rahul Tripathi and Sunil Narine will be better as an opening combination rather than the current duo of Gill and Rana.
Also Read: India’s Focus Should Be To Fight Pandemic Not Host IPL: Piers Morgan
“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 after KKR beat Punjab Kings by five wickets.
Gavaskar said Narine, who has been floating in the middle order can be asked to open with Tripathi.
Sunil Gavaskar Suggests New Opening Pair For KKR
“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,” added Gavaskar.
Sunil Gavaskar also congratulated KKR skipper Eoin Morgan saying that he would be relieved to get back amongst the runs. The KKR skipper scored an unbeaten 47 to take KKR over the line after four straight losses.
“He was playing his shot well. He was being aggressive, which is his normal game. When you contribute towards teams win and steady the ship – because at one stage they were 3 wickets down and they needed that partnership between him and Rahul Tripathi – that steadied the ship and eventually to take your team home. That gives you a lot of confidence for the matches to come. I think, Morgan will be very pleased with the win and the way he contributed to that win,” said Gavaskar.
KKR play Delhi Capitals and RCB in Ahmedabad before heading to Bangalore for their last five league games.
Also Read: IPL 2021, Match 21 PBKS vs KKR: Eoin Morgan-Rahul Tripathi Brings Kolkata Back To Winning Ways
