Former India opener Aakash Chopra praised the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) opening batting pair. Sunil Narine and Phit Salt played attacking innings against Punjab Kings (PBKS). Their aggressive knocks propelled KKR to a massive total.
Sunil Narine and Phit Salt combined for a 138-run opening-wicket stand to enable KKR set PBKS a huge 262-run chase in Kolkata on Friday, April 26. However, the visitors knocked down the goal with eight wickets and as many deliveries to spare, moving ahead of the Mumbai Indians (MI) to eighth place in the points standings.
In a video posted on his YouTube page, Chopra reflected on KKR’s batting, noting that Narine and Salt made the most of the opportunities they were given.
“Captain Shreyas Iyer lost the toss and they were invited to bat first. Sunil Narine is going at a different level these days. Phit Salt was there with Sunil Narine and both together did an assault. Catches were dropped and everyone was getting lives.”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener said that the duo helped the hosts reach a record total of 137 for no loss at the midway point of their innings.
“Kolkata posted the highest 10-over-mark total of their 17-year history. I think it was 137 or 139. Sunil Narine somehow got out in the end and Phil Salt also got out. There was a semblance of a feeling that you might be hit less now.”
Aakash Chopra
Narine scored 71 runs off 32 deliveries, including nine fours and four sixes. Salt hit six fours and as many sixes in his 37-ball 75.
Aakash Chopra Expresses Surprise Over KKR Skipper’s Batting Order Decision
Aakash Chopra, applauded Kolkata Knight Riders’ leader Shreyas Iyer. This was for validating his choice to bat before Rinku Singh.
“Venkatesh Iyer came and he also tried to play big shots. After that, Andre Russell was promoted and he too hit big shots. I was extremely surprised that why Shreyas came ahead of Rinku Singh. So Shreyas also scored 28 runs off 10 balls and said that’s why he came and that Rinku Singh wouldn’t have hit more than him.”
Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator ascribed the high score on the players’ overly aggressive attitude.
“The bowlers got hit a lot and it wasn’t because of the ‘Impact Player’ rule. Both openers scored half-centuries and not many players got out. Ramandeep (Singh) came in the end for one ball and he too hit a six. So where does the impact player come there? An extra batter wasn’t required. The change has been in the mindset.”
Aakash Chopra
Russell hit 24 runs off 12 deliveries, while Venkatesh scored 39 from 23 balls. Shreyas scored 28 runs off ten balls. Rinku Singh batted at No. 6 and came out to bat in the 19th over, scoring five runs off four deliveries.