In its early editions, Australia and South Africa players ruled the foreign legion in the Indian Premier League. Still, in the last few seasons, they have sought a global balance with players from England making a decent impact in the T20 tournament.
But for the Covid-19 pandemic, England’s 2019 one-day world champions would have played in India in packed stadiums. Although the venues in the UAE are practically empty, in Dubai, the English flavour was in the breeze.
In the 2019 ICC World Cup triumph, Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes were the big stars. Due to personal reasons, the all-rounder did not tie up with Rajasthan Royals, but on a surprisingly fast wicket, Archer was magnificent. On Wednesday’s proof, the predictions of slow turners were not entirely accurate.
Even in a format cut out for batsmen, the simple action of Archer belies pace and hostility. After skipper Steve Smith decided to bowl and made Kolkata Knight Riders batsmen battle, he bowled 150 kph consistently.
To provide the late thrust, it took England skipper Eoin Morgan, also the man behind a nationwide limited-overs rise.
At the top (47-34b), Young Shubman Gill created another gem. In the first over, Archer gave a run and then taken a wicket for one run in the 12th.
Extra bounce from Gill drew a top edge, and Archer practically forced away ‘keeper Jos Buttler to grab the return catch from the sky.
In his next over-14th of the innings, Archer gave two runs-but KKR skipper Dinesh Karthik had no idea as a ball edged that moved away late, taking the outside edge.
Before Morgan hit a six after Tom Curran at the backward point helped it across, it took Archer’s final over so that KKR to get a boundary, a Pat Cummins drive past cover.
Before their pacers took control to leave RR reeling, that helped KKR finish on 174/6, the 37-run win by KKR would help increase the points table. Archer declared during the break, referring to the pace-friendly pitch, “Horses for courses.”
He also said that the Royals could have given 15 extra runs free. They may well have conceded a further 50 runs.
Pat Cummins illustrated why, at the last auctions, KKR made him the most expensive acquisition, bowling a sensational opening spell. He drew Steve Smith’s inside edge and left it to Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi, the KKR tearaways, to take over.
Injuries in the last two seasons have irritated both fast bowlers. And they put on a show, with wickets as well as catches.
When fit and shooting, the India U-19 World Cup stars demonstrated what they could deliver. The big-hitting Sanju Samson first surprised Mavi, the extra bounce leading in a lofted catch to midwicket.
Cummins escaped Buttler, only for Mavi to draw the edge with a big ball, taken at the point of reverse. Nagarkoti had two more fast wickets delivered. Gill took a low catch to get Riyan Parag at the end.
When Rahul Tewatia, the new star of the Royals, was bowled trying to take on spinner Varun Chakravarthy, another attempt to follow this IPL looked indeed buried.
Brief scores: Rajasthan Royals 137/9 in 20 overs (K Nagarkoti 2/13); Kolkata Knight Riders 174/6 in 20 overs (S Gill 47, J Archer 2/18);
