Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer provides valuable insights for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) ahead of their IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Wasim Jaffer emphasises the importance of bolstering SRH’s bowling attack by including a fast bowler, as they gear up to face KKR at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Wasim Jaffer’s cricketing journey is a unique blend of domestic mastery and an international career with its own twists and turns. Jaffer’s true brilliance shone on the domestic scene. A right-handed batsman known for his elegance, he became the undisputed king of the Ranji Trophy, the premier domestic tournament in India. He surpassed the legendary Amol Muzumdar to become the tournament’s highest run-scorer, a feat achieved in 2018 with a staggering 11,000 runs under his belt. His consistency was remarkable, and he even holds the record for most matches played in the Ranji Trophy.
In a high-stakes clash for a spot in the IPL 2024 final, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 1. Both teams have been impressive throughout the season, with KKR boasting the most wins (9) and SRH showcasing strong overall performance (8 wins). KKR holds the upper hand, having won 17 out of their 26 encounters against SRH. However, the pressure of the knockout stage can bring out the unexpected.
What Wasim Jaffer Said
Jaffer shared with ESPNCricinfo on Monday, “I feel Sunrisers [Hyderabad] will have to add a fast bowler to their bowling lineup. In their previous, Shahbaz Ahmed and Nitish Reddy proved expensive. Sanvir is not being used a lot as a batter.”
“So, I think they should find a place for [Jaydev] Unadkat. The pitch will be good (to bat), you need bowling options. This is one thing that SRH can do in Qualifier 1.”
Wasim Jaffer also cautioned that the lack of game time could pose challenges for KKR’s opening batter and wicketkeeper, Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The Afghanistan international is set to replace the in-form Phil Salt, who accumulated 435 runs in 12 matches during IPL 2024, boasting a strike rate of 182.01 along with four half-centuries. Jaffer expressed his thoughts on the matter, saying,
“Rahmanullah Gurbaz will be slightly rusty. He will miss game time. A couple of innings would’ve been better for Gurbaz before the playoffs. He has not played for a long time and will replace in-form Phil Salt as wicketkeeper-batter and opener. The Knight Riders’ batters have also not played for nearly 10 days.”
Gurbaz is seen as a direct replacement for Salt, fitting a similar role. While scheduled to play the last two league games against Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals, both matches were abandoned due to rain. In the previous IPL season, the right-hander amassed 227 runs in 11 matches at a strike rate of 133.53, registering two half-centuries.
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