“Mitch’s arrival in the team increased the other young players’ confidence.”
After the Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in the IPL 2024 final on Sunday, bowling coach Bharat Arun praised his bowling assault. With the victory, KKR won their first IPL championship in ten years.
Arun honored Mitchell Starc and Harshit Rana, two pacers, for their significant season-long contributions.
He said, “He (Harshit) has been outstanding,” praising Rana’s constant performances. It’s about supporting your advantages.”
Regarding Starc’s influence, Arun remarked, “I believe that Mitch’s arrival in the club increased the self-assurance of other young players in the team. He is arguably the world’s greatest bowler. He was outstanding as soon as he grasped the situation in India.”
With an outstanding average of 20.15, the 22-year-old Rana took 19 wickets in 13 matches, ranking him fourth in the tournament. His best bowling average was an impressive 3/24.
With a price tag of Rs 24.75 crore, Starc is the most expensive player in IPL history. His significant playoff performances have validated his high cost. He claimed five wickets during Qualifier 1 and the final, including a crucial three-wicket haul against SRH.
Arun also gave the spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine credit for their contributions. He disclosed that mentor Gautam Gambhir, whose strategy of opening the batting with Narine proved quite effective, was an inspiration.
“Spinners mature with age, and with Sunny and Varun bowling in tandem, it was superb,” Arun said. “(On Narine, the hitter). He gave our batting an entirely new perspective. Gautam was the one who insisted that he open, and it was beneficial.”
With an average of 19.14, Varun Chakaravarthy took 21 wickets in 15 matches thanks to his spin. Meanwhile, Sunil Narine showed off his all-around ability by scoring 488 runs at an average of 34.85 and a scorching strike rate of 180.74, in addition to taking 17 wickets. With a peak score of 109, he even smashed a century and three fifties.
“This is an incredible evening, and it’s time to rejoice,” said the KKR bowling coach. The decisive victory highlighted the KKR bowling unit’s well-rounded performance, with pacers and spinners crucial to the team’s IPL 17 championship.