IPL 2021: Aakash Chopra believes KKR will be fine with Pat Cummins’ absence
As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the decision to conduct the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2021 in the United Arab Emirates, the questions regarding foreign player availability started coming to the fore.
A jam-packed cricket calendar and ICC FTP compulsions mean that the resumed edition of the T20 league might miss out on several foreigners, who will be busy catering to their national duties. Pat Cummins is one of the first cricketers, who is understood to give the IPL a miss, while New Zealand and RCB pacer Kyle Jamieson seems unsure of his participation as well.
Meanwhile, former India and KKR player Aakash Chopra, in his latest YouTube video, has analysed the impact of the Australian quicks’ absence on the franchise. He suggested that if Lockie Ferguson remains available for KKR, they might not miss Cummins as much.
Cummins’ performance has not been great in 2021: Aakash Chopra
“KKR already have Lockie Ferguson. And in my opinion, if you have to pick one of them just as a T20 bowler, I will pick Lockie Ferguson ahead of him (Cummins). If Lockie is available and plays, it is absolutely fine. I don’t think they are going to miss Pat Cummins the bowler,” said Chopra.
“His (Cummins’) performance has not been great as a bowler. If we talk about last year, he took just 12 wickets in 14 matches, and that was in the UAE, where the remaining matches will be played. The economy was okay, less than eight. This year also, he took only nine wickets in seven matches, and he was more expensive as well, almost nine runs per over,” he added.
Chopra further stated that KKR can look at Mark Wood as a replacement for Cummins. “It could be Mark Wood. He is up there in my mind. He bowls very well; last time he had made himself unavailable, but if this time he makes himself available, then Mark Wood will be my option for the Kolkata Knight Riders.” Cummins bagged nine wickets in seven matches before the IPL was abruptly halted.
