Warner's daring act misfired while Karthik's seven-bowler strategy fired on target

 By K.R. Nayar

Kolkata restricted Hyderabad to a small total through their bowlers giving their best to ensure Gill and Morgan steer them to victory.

Comment in Gulf News IPL special page 

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner became the first captain in this edition of the IPL to elect to bat after winning the toss. It was a brave decision taken with the hope that his team would post a big total and put Kolkata Knight Riders under pressure.

For a big score, Warner himself should have given a good start along with his opening partner Jonny Bairstow. However, both failed. After that, it looked like Hyderabad was not keen to go for a big score. Although Manish Pandey got a half -century, the Hyderabad innings needed big shots from their batsmen. In the end one wondered what was the logic behind keeping wickets intact, losing just four wickets and scoring a mere 142 runs.

The Kolkata bowlers maintained an excellent line and length. Their skipper Dinesh Karthik introduced seven bowlers and each one did an excellent job. To use seven bowlers was an effective strategy, and Karthik could do that because he had enough bowlers in his team.

Hyderabad’s Manish Pandey, who has the honour of being the first Indian to score a century in the IPL, hit a 38-ball half-century while Wriddhiman Saha scored a run-a-ball 30. If it was a 50 over match one could have appreciated both the batsmen. But in T20, when so many deliveries  are consumed a bigger score should have come off them.

Hyderabad's target of 142 meant that Kolkata needed to score only seven runs an over. That also meant Hyderabad need to pick early wickets. In fact, they lit up hopes by removing opener Sunil Narine for a duck. But what followed was Kolkata’s slow and steady domination of the Hyderabad attack. Twenty-one year old Shubman Gill displayed his enormous potential. It was a treat to watch his selection of shots and domination over top spin bowlers. His partner, Nitish Rana, has never played for India, but the manner in which he played his shots against the reputed Hyderabad bowlers was brilliant.

After Rana fell, Karthik also fell for a duck. But the next man in, Eoin Morgan, a veteran of many- a- battles and winning captain of the 2019 World Cup, held the chase steady. This is where a mix of experience and youth came handy. Gill wanted a batsman like Morgan at the other end to ease his pressure, and that helped him unleash his shots with confidence.

For Karthik, it was a day when all the youngsters did well.  His team is filled with young blood, and the more they perform the better it is for the IPL since its very purpose is to give a stage for youngsters to perform and aim for the Indian team.  Gill has announced that he is ready for a regular place in the Indian team.