Former New Zealand fast bowler Simon Doull reckons Sam Curran could not execute his plans against Kolkata Knight Riders’ all-rounder Andre Russell after their five-wicket loss at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Monday.
Curran could not hit the right areas as he bowled short and he was taken for three sixes by Andre Russell, which turned the match in KKR’s favor. 26 runs were needed off the final two overs but the England all-rounder went on to concede 20 runs in the penultimate over of the innings.
It was a game-changer as KKR then needed only six runs in the final over to chase down 180 runs. Curran had a tough day at the office, conceding 44 runs in the three overs he bowled and also went wicketless.
Speaking to Cricbuzz after KKR’s thrilling five-wicket victory over PBKS, Doull said: “He [Sam Curran] was the Player of the World Cup. He gets those yorkers right. He is under enormous pressure, I get that. And bowling to a big powerful player, you are under more pressure. But they were length balls. He bowled two length balls leg side, got picked off both times into the grandstand for half a dozen.
“He then went for the off-pace, bu the off-pace was too slow and too wide of off to the short side. He just got it wrong and couldn’t execute what he needed to execute.”
Meanwhile, Andre Russell scored a blistering knock of 42 runs off just 23 balls with the help of three fours and as many sixes. Furthermore, Rinku Singh played a brilliant cameo of 10-ball 21 and he added 54 runs off just 27 balls to help KKR chase down the target.
On the other hand, Sam Curran was bought for a whopping amount of INR 18.50 crores in the IPL 2023 auction, making him the most expensive buy of all time.
Doull added that PBKS had roped in Curran as an all-rounder who will predominantly deliver as a bowler. However, the England player has scalped only seven wickets in 11 matches but more importantly, he has conceded his runs at a high economy rate of 10.28.
Doull added: “He [Curran] is now going at over 10 an over for the season. Predominately, they bought him as a bowler who can bat. You are not buying Sam Curran as the genuine all-rounder.
“Okay, he will give us an innings or two, but we are buying you as a bowler, at the death in particular, because you have been so good, and you will get us a few runs with the bat. But he hasn’t been able to do it this year just yet.”
Punjab Kings will next face Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Saturday.
