Murali Kartik suggested a change in personnel for the Kolkata Knight Riders for their game against the Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Thursday, April 9.
The former India spinner said that Australian all-rounder Cameron Green hasn’t done much with the bat, and the three-time champions would be better served if they bring Tim Seifert into the line-up to open alongside his compatriot, Finn Allen. Kartik mentioned that Seifert and Allen can get the Knights off to a flying start, with skipper Ajinkya Rahane coming in at No. 3.
“I will make a change, I have been saying this right from the start that Finn Allen and Tim Seifert should open the innings together, and Ajinkya Rahane can bat at No.3. I am not seeing anything coming from Cameron Green, to be very honest. He is not even bowling. You have a settled opening pair who know each other really well, and if they can start well on the good Kolkata surface, then that would be great,” Kartik said on Cricbuzz.
In the first three games, Green has played a specialist batter and registered scores of 18, 2, and 4. However, reports suggest that he could bowl on Thursday.
Murali Kartik names players to watch out for
Kartik is pleased to see Aiden Markram reuniting with Mitchell Marsh at the top of the order for the Lucknow Super Giants in their last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. In their opening fixture, the franchise experimented with skipper Rishabh Pant, pushing him up to open the batting with Marsh, and Markram batted at No. 3.
“The most important thing for Lucknow was that their original opening pair returned, and the position that Rishabh Pant is currently playing in, please stay there. The player to watch out for me would be Bison (Mitchell Marsh), and Finn Allen,” Kartik concluded.
The Super Giants have one win and one defeat after playing two matches so far. On the other hand, the Knights started their campaign with consecutive defeats before their last game against the Punjab Kings was washed out due to rain.
