After ending IPL 2021 as the runners-up, Kolkata Knight Riders have started the 2022 edition on a strong note. The Shreyas Iyer-led side has won two of its first three matches and will next lock horns with Mumbai Indians at the MCA Stadium in Pune. In what is a good news for the team, their star pacer Pat Cummins has joined the squad and is available for the game against Mumbai.
While Cummins joining the team is a boost, it has also caused the management some selection headaches. “Pretty delighted to get Pat back... He’s one of those guys who adjusts so well in this environment and is a wonderful human being. He is a strong leader as well, so he should be of good help to skipper Shreyas (Iyer), who has been impressive as well. We have now got a selection headache because we’ve got more guys to pick from, which I think is a good problem to have,” KKR coach Brendon McCullum told reporters.
With Cummins back in the team, Sam Billings is likely to be benched. In Billings’ place, Sheldon Jackson will don the keeper’s gloves. Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Tim Southee are likely to be the other three overseas players in the playing XI.
KKR will be hoping that the return of Cummins can help them improve their overall head to head total with Mumbai Indians in the IPL. The five-time champions have a win percentage of 75.8% against KKR, which is the highest win percentage for a team against any opponent in the tournament.
Cummins has 125 wickets in 112 T20s while also having a batting strike rate of nearly 134.
Image credit: IPL
