The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) topped the IPL 2024 points table and earned a spot in Qualifier 1 against second-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). However, former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes KKR could face hurdles in their hunt for a third IPL title.
The biggest hurdle for KKR will be the absence of English opener Phil Salt. The hard-hitting batter was KKR's second-highest run-scorer with 435 runs in 12 matches, providing solid starts at the top of the order alongside Sunil Narine. Salt returned to England to participate in the four-match T20I series against Pakistan.
"There could be one problem for sure. This season, Phil Salt greatly contributed to this team's success. The starts he used to give with Sunil Narine suddenly put the opposing team on the back foot and they used to find it very difficult to emerge from that many times. However, Phil Salt isn't there now," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
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The second problem is that Shreyas Iyer hasn't scored that many runs this year: Aakash Chopra
Salt's likely replacement will be Afghanistan's wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The 22-year-old has experience playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as he was part of the Gujarat Titans (GT). But Chopra questioned whether Gurbaz can replicate Salt's explosive impact at the top of the order.
"Rahmanullah Gurbaz is there in place of him. The thing that goes in Rahmanullah Gurbaz's favor is that he used to be a part of the Gujarat Titans at one point. So he has played earlier at this ground and on these pitches although he didn't get too many chances when he was with Gujarat," Chopra added.
Another potential issue that Chopra pointed out was the form of KKR's captain Shreyas Iyer. The talented right-hand batter has managed to score 287 runs at an average of 31.88 this season.
"The second problem is that Shreyas Iyer hasn't scored that many runs this year. He has played a slightly anchor-type role whereas all players around him come like rocket launchers. He even said that he has an anchor's role this time. So he is anchoring but the season hasn't been the way you expect it to be," he further added.
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Chopra also highlighted concerns over the lack of runs from Rinku Singh (168 runs at 18.66) and the inconsistent performances of Australian pacer Mitchell Starc, who has picked 12 wickets but leaked runs at 11.36 an over.
"However, despite that, his team has reached so far. The third problem is that Rinku Singh has neither scored many runs nor got many opportunities. Other than that, Mitchell Starc's form has been 50-50," Chopra concluded.
Despite topping the table, KKR have some worrying form issues that SRH could expose in Qualifier 1. The two teams were evenly matched in their single league meeting, with KKR winning the game by four runs. The winner of Qualifier 1 will advance directly to the final, while the loser gets another chance in Qualifier 2 against the winners of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Eliminator clash.
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