Bowlers need to find “innovative ways to execute deliveries with a touch of ‘counter-skill’ to challenge batsmen hitting the range in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), believes Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) assistant coach Ryan ten Deutsche.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off the highest run chase in T20s when they saw off Kolkata Knight Riders scoring 261/6 with eight balls and eight wickets in their IPL match at Eden Gardens on April 26.
“The game is almost unrecognizable from 10 years ago, when you get over 160, you can almost pack your bag and feel like you’re going to win the game. Now, you need 160 before the end of the 13th to have a chance at a big score,” Dewechat said. During the media interaction after the match.
Jonny Bairstow led the chase with 108 off just 48 deliveries after Impact player Prabhsimran Singh set the tone with 54 off 20 balls.
After Prabhsimran was out, Shashank Singh lent a helping hand with an unbeaten 28-ball 68 in a match that saw a record 42 sixes in total.
The former Dutchman, who was part of KKR’s title-winning side of 2014, emphasized the need for bowlers to adopt unorthodox tactics through “anti-skill” bowling, in order to achieve success against aggressive batting strategies.
“You want to throw with counter skill. I think, you know, short and wide really works, pulling guys wide and then going straight.” Citing the example of Sam Curran dismissing Phil Salt, he said: “You almost need to catch people off guard like Sam Curran did Phil Salt off guard. He put it out, pulled it across and then fired into the leg stump.” “We have to come up with innovative ways. We have to keep changing ball after ball literally. I don’t think you can bowl two balls the same way. I don’t think you can bowl bowlers back to back anymore unless you really control the game.”
“It’s all in the batsman’s favour. The challenge and upside for bowlers not to respond is already there,” he added.
The previous record chase in T20 was by South Africa against the West Indies at Centurion in 2023 when they overhauled 259 in 18.5 overs.
In the IPL, both the now record chases against KKR were achieved within 10 days at the same venue at Eden Gardens.
KKR failed to defend 223/6 as Jos Buttler smashed 55 balls to complete the steal on April 16.
Ruling out any bowling concerns, the KKR assistant coach said there was no need to cry about it as they would have to recover quickly.
“We are not worried, but bowling with the new ball and seam bowling, everything in Kolkata is really difficult, and we need to find a way to do better.
“There are two ways you can look at it. You can step back and say, ‘Oh, that’s not fair, we’re bowling machines,’ or you can say, ‘We’ll find a way and try new things and accept the challenge.’ It’s going to be tough, and we’re going to get criticized a lot throughout the show, but you have to find creative ways. We have four weeks left, and he’ll be around for at least that long, and there’s no need to cry over him.
“I feel sorry for the bowlers, I think it went more towards that [batting] side, but those are the facts, and my way of doing that would be to find a way to land a punch on the hitter as quickly as possible. -The fast arm may need a game or two to come back.
KKR will next take on Delhi Capitals here on April 29, before taking on Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in back-to-back away matches.
“As far as I know, he is very close to making a comeback, which will either be the next game or the game after that,” he said.
Sub-Effect Chance: Prabhsimran
Punjab Kings opener Prabbhasimran, who came on as Impact’s replacement for Arshdeep Singh and batted his way to his maiden fifty of the season, described the rule as an opportunity for him.
“I see this as an opportunity for young people,” the diminutive opener said.
In chasing the record, he said, “We just wanted to capitalize on the power play and keep the momentum going forward.” For PBKS, Bairstow’s inclusion paid off as he returned to form in style.
“He is a top bowler and we all know what he is capable of. In cricket, it only takes one match to recover from your poor form and I saw the other day how he dominated the bowlers and scored a century,” added Prabhsimran.
