Virender Sehwag, a former Indian opener, believes Kolkata Knight Riders will have the upper hand in the IPL 2021 knockout stages in Sharjah. After a comfortable win over the Rajasthan Royals on Thursday, the Kolkata Knight Riders have all but clinched a playoff berth.
The first eliminator in IPL 2021 would pit Kolkata against Royal Challengers Bangalore, with Kolkata expected to finish fourth and Royal Challengers Bangalore third. In Sharjah, the Knight Riders have won both of their games. They might get to play at the venue once more should they beat Bangalore in the eliminator. In IPL 2021, Sehwag revealed why Kolkata has the aces in Sharjah.
Virender Sehwag believes Eoin Morgan and his teammates appear confident while playing in Sharjah, where batting has been difficult. Kolkata, according to Sehwag, has a superior understanding of the conditions and has an advantage over the Royal Challengers.
“I think it’s a good sign for the KKR. They have a match at a venue in which they have delivered an outstanding performance and will get another if they win it. Hence, it’s pretty suitable for them as they are aware of the conditions and know how to approach them. Bangalore might play better because they have 2-3 players in Ab de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, and Virat Kohli, who can win games single-handedly. But Kolkata has the advantage of playing their playoffs in Sharjah.” he said
On Friday, Kolkata played a near-perfect game against Rajasthan, scoring 171 runs after being put in to bat. Later, their bowlers annihilated the opposition, dismissing the Royals for 86 runs and effectively securing a place in the IPL 2021 playoffs.
Venkatesh Iyer
The growth of players like Venkatesh Iyer and Umran Malik through the IPL, according to Ajay Jadeja, bodes well for Indian cricket. He explained how Iyer relocated from Tamil Nadu to Madhya Pradesh owing to a lack of possibilities and proven his worth.
“It’s extremely useful when guys like Iyer travel outside of the circuit. Abdul Samad, for example, has brought in Umran Malik. Such players are the result of the system, and Iyer moved to Madhya Pradesh after failing to find work in Tamil Nadu. He did well as well. As a result, he’s been there all along and hasn’t gotten a chance until now.”
Iyer, who bats first for KKR, has played a key role in the team’s turnaround. The southpaw has been aggressive at the top of the order and contributes with medium-paced overs. Malik, on the other hand, has excelled with his fast bowling for SunRisers Hyderabad.
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