Having disappointingly lost their season opener, KKR bounced back with a win over Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. In the game, Moeen Ali stepped up on his KKR debut. He was a last-minute inclusion for the game after Sunil Narine was ruled out due to illness as well. He conceded just 23 runs off his four overs while also picking up the big wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana as well.
“I was just trying to do my job. Obviously, Sunil (Narine) was a big miss for us. Just tried to stick to my strengths and spin the ball as much as I can, and just contain.” said Moeen at the post-match press conference. “It was a good wicket, had a bit of everything. A bit of spin, a bit of seam. Obviously it spun nicely but not massive spin, just enough spin. A bit tacky but a nice ground to play, I’ve played here in the warm-up games and it was nice. It was nice that there was a bit of spin for us.”
ALSO READ: “In the next T20 World Cup in India, he’ll be number one bowler” – Mohammad Kaif on Varun Chakravarthy
“It’s nice to get a win within your first couple of games so that you don’t overthink things. Today was a great team performance, everyone bowled well against a good side. We contained really well and never really let them get ahead of the game, which then made our batting a bit easier with Quinny (de Kock) playing the way he did was outstanding, he again shared.”
Moeen in his first over, the seventh of the RR innings, gave away just five runs and it set the tone for KKR’s middle-overs squeeze that helped the team win the game. He also used his defensive qualities to choke an end up while Varun used his mystery to dismiss the batters. As a result, RR’s innings struggled and never recovered thereafter as well.
“My job was to keep it tight, so that he can build the pressure and maybe get wickets. I’m used to bowling with someone who is better than me and has more mystery than me. My job is to bowl as tight as I can and hopefully that builds pressure for that person to then get wickets. Varun is bowling outstandingly well as we know and he is a brilliant bowler. He has improved so much over the last two-three years. It is amazing to bowl with somebody like that,” he added.
ALSO READ: “Aap Lucknow ke naye nawab hain” – Aakash Chopra on Rishabh Pant’s appointment as LSG captain
“That ball was a nice one. I was just trying to spin it as much as I can. I knew that there was a bit of pressure being built and I just tried to bowl in a good area, spin it as much as I can. I don’t have the skill as other bowlers but my job is to contain as much as I can, not get hit for six over my head. If they play good shots and hit me for fours and sixes, then I’m pleased with that. My skill is that I think like a batter, so I think what they think and it works in my favour,” Moeen Ali again shared.
“India is a great place to bat. But on wickets like this, you aren’t going to get 300, you probably aren’t even going to get 200. It’s great to have these games in between those (high scoring) games. Big scoring games are great to see but it also gives a false sense of security, which is a bit too much. The game is developing fast and people are just fearless at the moment. The bowlers do have to come up with something, it is more important than ever before,” Moeen Ali concluded.
