Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has said that Shamar Joseph didn’t live up to expectations in the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) IPL 2024 loss to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as well. LSG set KKR a 162-run target at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, April 14 as well. Joseph went wicketless and gave away 47 runs in his four overs as the home team registered a comfortable eight-wicket win with 26 balls in hand.

While talking about KKR’s chase in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Second innings – is there a possibility of making a comeback somehow? However, the first over itself. Phil Salt was dropped and it was given a no-ball. 22 runs in one over – Shamar Joseph. Only two people have broken Gabba’s pride – Rishabh Pant and Shamar Joseph. There were great expectations from Shamar Joseph but he got hit a lot.”

“Mohsin Khan dismissed Sunil Narine and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. So Mohsin Khan was very impressive. However, Phit Salt’s assault from the other end. He batted destructively. He was slightly lucky for sure. He could have been caught in the deep off Shamar’s bowling but Arshad Khan dropped the catch,” Chopra again shared.

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However, Aakash Chopra also appreciated KKR captain Shreyas Iyer for leading his side well and playing a steady knock. Salt smashed an unbeaten 89 off just 47 balls with the help of 14 fours and three sixes. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer hit six fours in his unbeaten 38 off as
many deliveries as well.

“Salt remained not out till the end and the match got over very early. Shreyas Iyer – for the simple reason that he captained first and rotated his bowlers well, and then even though he might have scored at a run-a-ball, scoring runs is necessary and he did that job so that there were no hiccups,” he again said.

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While talking about LSG’s innings, Aakash Chopra added that KKR’s massive investment in Mitchell Starc has started giving results.

“This evening was actually in Mitchell Starc’s name. Of course, he is a very expensive player, and when you spend so much, why would it not be discussed? Now he has started giving the returns on investment. He conceded 100 runs in the first two matches and everybody was surprised, that what had happened to Mitchell Starc,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “However, then he took two wickets in a match. Then he did go wicketless for sure but now he has picked up three wickets. He dismissed Deepak Hooda with the new ball. Then the way he returned to first dismiss Nicholas Pooran and then Arshad Khan, he saved eight to 10 runs from the total in the last over itself.”