IPL 2023: Shardul Thakur – KKR assistant coach Abhishek Nayer revealed that the franchise is not losing sleep over Pat Cummins’s absence in IPL 2023 as Shardul Thakur has seamlessly stepped into a very similar role. Thakur was traded by KKR in the mini auction as the franchise felt they would require a bowling all-rounder like Cummins. While the Mumbai pacer is yet to be effective with the ball in hand, he has so far proven to be very effective with the bat in hand. Follow IPL 2023 Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
“Very similar to what Pat Cummins was doing for us. Playing at No.7 as a lower-order bat and someone who contributes with the bat and bowl those critical overs and close out games for us. That’s the role he does for India, and that’s the role we aspire from him for us,” Abhishek Nayer told to CricketNext.
IPL 2023: Thakur yet to deliver with the ball in hand for KKR, keen to repay faith shown by management
For the uninitiated, Cummins opted out of IPL 2023 season due to personal reasons and workload management. Thakur has fit into the role and has played five matches for KKR, scoring 101 runs and picking two wickets at an economy rate of 11. Interestingly, Thakur has bowled only 11.5 overs so far for the team.
KKR skipper Nitish Rana has not brought him in the power play but in the middle overs. Thakur is yet to provide vital breakthroughs for the side. For CSK and DC, the Mumbai pacer was used in death overs as well. Thakur is yet to win the trust of the KKR management. With Umesh Yadav yet to fire with the ball this season, Thakur would be keen to step with ball in hand.
Currently, KKR are placed seventh on the points, with three losses and two wins from five matches. The team will be playing DC in their next game on April 20.
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