Cricket

Wasim Akram Warns Sunrisers Hyderabad of Kolkata Knight Riders' Formidable Bowling AttackLegendary Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has issued a stern warning to Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of their highly anticipated IPL 2024 Qualifier 1 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders. Akram, who has previously coached KKR, highlighted the team's exceptional bowling attack as a major threat to SRH's title aspirations.KKR finished the league stage at the summit of the standings with an impressive net run rate of 1.428, showcasing their dominance in both batting and bowling. In their league encounter this season, KKR emerged victorious over SRH with a tense 4-run win at Eden Gardens.Akram praised KKR's bowling attack for its collective effort throughout the season, emphasizing their ability to consistently take wickets. "This [bowling] is one of the main factors [behind KKR finishing on top of the points table]. There are wicket-taking bowlers. The teams that will take wickets will win the matches," Akram told Sportskeeda.He highlighted the contributions of Varun Chakaravarthy (18 wickets), Harshit Rana (16 wickets), and all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine (15 wickets each), along with Mitchell Starc, who has 12 wickets. "Starc single-handedly won them a game as well. They are going in the final as a calm, confident, and very dangerous side for sure," Akram added.Akram also noted the team's controlled aggression as a key factor. "Almost everyone performed; they played Manish Pandey in one game and he also delivered. So, that shows that everybody is happy and confident. They have aggression, but they have controlled aggression. They are not cocky or overconfident," he added.However, Akram did highlight a potential challenge for KKR with the absence of Phil Salt, who has returned home for national team commitments. Rahmanullah Gurbaz is expected to replace him in the playoffs. "No doubt, Phil Salt's absence will affect them," Akram remarked.

Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad Clash in Qualifier 1Two of the IPL's most explosive batting lineups, Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, will face off in the first qualifier in Ahmedabad. The match promises to be a high-scoring affair, especially if the pitch offers a bouncy surface.KKR boasts a formidable batting lineup led by Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. SRH, on the other hand, has found a reliable No. 3 option in Rahul Tripathi, who has strengthened their top order.However, the nature of the pitch will play a crucial role in the outcome. If the surface is slow and favors spinners, SRH's Varun Chakravarthy and Narine could pose a significant threat. KKR, on the other hand, will need to adapt quickly after enduring washouts in their last two league matches.KKR's Nitish Rana is expected to return as an Impact Player option, while SRH may consider bringing back Aiden Markram for his steady batting and offspin.Key Players to Watch:* Rinku Singh (KKR): The finisher has been in impressive form this season, despite limited opportunities.* T Natarajan (SRH): The left-arm pacer has developed a deceptive slower bouncer to complement his yorkers.Stats to Note:* Bhuvneshwar Kumar has a favorable match-up against Narine, dismissing him twice in 25 balls.* Varun Chakravarthy has taken the most wickets (38) by a spinner in the IPL since 2023.* Narine is four hits away from 100 IPL sixes.* Bhuvneshwar Kumar has bowled the most yorkers (31) in IPL 2024.