KKR won’t miss Pat Cummins, the bowler – Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra stated that Pat Cummins’ probable absence from the second phase of IPL would not be a big problem for KKR. It has been reported that Pat Cummins has decided against playing in the second phase of IPL 2021. There was no specified reason but the busy international schedule after the league was probably the deciding factor against it.

In a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra opined that Lockie Ferguson is a better T20 bowler than Cummins. If he is given the option, he would always choose Ferguson over Cummins for the T20 format. Thereby he thinks with the availability of Lockie, KKR would likely not suffer any loss because of  Cummins’ absence.

Aakash Chopra backed up his response with the reason that Cummins did not perform well in the last few seasons. He had an average bowling record over the past two seasons of the league. Overall, he had not been a great bowler. Chopra pointed out that Cummins had taken just 12wicket in 14 matches in the last season held in UAE. This year too, the remaining 31 matches would be played in UAE. Moreover, in IPL 2021, he took nine wickets in seven matches but gave away almost nine runs per over he bowled.

Aakash Chopra acknowledged that Pat Cummins did leave an impact as a batsman

His performance as a batsman had been decent throughout the league. But in UAE his performance with the bat was not outstanding. He had hit a fifty with an average of 20. But this time around he hit a fifty with an average of 31 and a strike rate of 166.

Pat Cummins’ decision to step back from the remainder of the IPL 2021, despite the money he would lose, would likely trigger more withdrawals from the league. All-format players of Australia and England would especially follow his path. It is because the T20 format and the Ashes are scheduled close to the end of the league

Mark Wood could be a possible replacement for Pat Cummins at KRR

According to Aakash Chopra, Mark Wood could replace Cummins in IPL 2021 phase 2. He has a good bowling record. But in the first phase, he had made himself unavailable. If he is available this time in UAE, then he would be the ideal choice for KKR. Although it is highly unlikely that h would make himself available with the T20 World Cup and the Ashes scheduled just around the corner of the IPL 2021 final.e

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