After a strong Powerplay that saw RR reach 54/1, KKR’s spinners tightened the screws, conceding just 38 runs for four wickets in overs 7-13 © BCCI RR and KKR were amongst the most successful sides in the 2022-24 cycle of IPL and one common factor between the two was the strength of their spin attacks. In fact, these two were the only sides whose spinners picked up 100+ wickets in the last three editions. But as the new cycle came, both went different routes in building their squad. KKR retained both their premier spin stocks in Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine while RR let go of both Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin and roped in like-for-like overseas replacements in Wanindu Hasaranga and Mahesh Theekshana, keeping the structure intact. If the evidence from past games is anything to look at, trends indicate that when dew stays away, Guwahati track offers some hold and spinners. With Narine ruled out at the last moment, Moeen Ali – who has off late become more of a specialist matchup finger spinner for left handers – filled in and plied his ‘super speciality’ skillset to near perfection. After a good Powerplay where they scored 54/1, KKR spinners choked RR batters conceding just 38 runs for four wickets in seven overs between seven and 13. Moeen largely struck to a line just outside off stump to right handers and more straighter lines to lefties staying the shorter half of good length while Varun bowled more into the pitch. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s game sense was put to the test as he tried to take down Moeen the over right after they lost Riyan Parag. Nitish Rana, a left hander with an exceptional record against balls turning away, was undone by one that pitched in leg and turned away to beat his outside edge. Hasaranga was promoted to disrupt the KKR spinners rhythm, but he succumbed to a leg break that bounced from Varun. Parameter Moeen + Varun Theekshana + Hasaranga Overs bowled 8 7 Wkts taken 4 1 Eco rate 5.00 9.42 Boundary % 4.17% 19.05% vs positive matchups 4/23 (29) 1/34 (26) vs negative matchups 0/17 (19) 0/32 (16) In all, Moeen bowled 15/24 balls to southpaws and picked up 2/11 while Varun bowled 14/24 to right handers and bagged 2/12. Between them they conceded just two boundaries across eight overs and gave away only 40 runs compared to 111 at 9.25 by their seamers. In comparison, Hasaranga and Theekshana combined to bowl seven overs for 66 as they failed to bowl a boundary-less over between them; and in four of those, the boundary came early in the over (first two balls), letting batters to milk the rest of the over as they cruised to the middling target. RR spin duo bowled a higher share of balls in the good length zone (64% to 52% by KKR), but when they went either side of it they were punished harshly. Together they bowled 11 short balls between them which were taken for 25 runs. Hasaranga was taken down by left-handed Quinton de Kock for 21 off his nine, balls playing the matchup game to perfection whereas Theekshana went at 9.42 against KKR’s right handers. Royals went into the 2025 auction with the fewest purse among the ten teams, but spent only 4 of their 79 crores on retaining a single specialist bowler. In the two games so far, Royals’ bowling attack conceded 286 in one and have one wicket to their name to show for in the other. Sterner test awaits them as the season unfolds.
