NEW DELHI: Legendary Pakistan pacer
Wasim Akram
has cautioned Sunrisers Hyderabad about the formidable bowling attack of Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of their highly anticipated IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 at
Narendra Modi Stadium
in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
KKR finished the league stage at the top of the table with an impressive net run rate (NRR) of 1.428, showcasing dominance in both batting and bowling.
In their league encounter this season, KKR emerged victorious over SRH with a tense 4-run win at Eden Gardens.
Akram praised KKR's bowling attack for its collective effort throughout the season, emphasizing their ability to consistently take wickets.
"This [bowling] is one of the main factors [behind KKR finishing on top of the points table]. There are wicket-taking bowlers. The teams that will take wickets will win the matches," Akram told Sportskeeda.
He highlighted the contributions of Varun Chakaravarthy (18 wickets), Harshit Rana (16 wickets), and all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine (15 wickets each), along with Mitchell Starc, who has 12 wickets.
"Starc single-handedly won them a game as well. They are going in the final as a calm, confident, and very dangerous side for sure," Akram added.
Akram, who has previously coached KKR, noted the team's controlled aggression as a key factor. "Almost everyone performed; they played Manish Pandey in one game and he also delivered. So, that shows that everybody is happy and confident. They have aggression, but they have controlled aggression. They are not cocky or overconfident," he added.
However, Akram did highlight a potential challenge for KKR with the absence of Phil Salt, who has returned home for national team commitments. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to replace him in the playoffs.
"No doubt, Phil Salt's absence will affect them," Akram remarked.
English (US) ·