Mitchell Starc, the Australian fast bowler, has been underperforming for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Despite his hefty price tag of $3 million, Starc has failed to justify his worth, raising concerns about his form and the team’s bowling unit.
KKR, currently second in the 10-team table, has relied heavily on its top-order batting, with Sunil Narine, Phil Salt, Andre Russell, and Shreyas Iyer leading the charge. However, the bowling department has been a cause for concern, with Starc’s underwhelming performance being a major factor.
In seven matches, Starc has managed only six wickets at an economy rate of 11.48, the worst among KKR’s specialist bowlers. His lack of pace and reluctance to bowl slower deliveries have made him vulnerable to batsmen, especially in the death overs.
In contrast, uncapped Indian pacers Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora have impressed with their economy rates of 9.25 and 9.57, respectively. However, they have also been hit at times, highlighting the need for a more consistent bowling performance from KKR.
Against a power-hitting Punjab Kings side, KKR’s bowling unit will need to step up. Starc, in particular, will have to rediscover his mojo and play a leading role alongside Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, who have been effective in the middle overs.
Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have struggled to find consistency in their batting. Despite having talented players like Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone, Rilee Rossouw, and Jonny Bairstow, they have failed to deliver consistently.
However, their uncapped duo of Ashutosh and Shashank have salvaged the team from precarious situations with their astonishing power-hitting. The return of skipper Shikhar Dhawan, who is nursing a shoulder injury, would be a major boost to their morale.
The match between KKR and Punjab Kings promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams looking to improve their fortunes in the IPL. KKR will rely on their top-order batting and bowling unit, while Punjab Kings will hope to exploit KKR’s bowling weaknesses and find their rhythm in the tournament.
