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Former India head coach Anil Kumble was baffled by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Nitish Rana's decision not to use Shardul Thakur in their last-ball victory over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Eden Gardens on Monday, May 8.
Rana used seven bowlers during PBKS' batting innings, including himself for an over, yet did not use Thakur for a single over. Thakur bowled three overs in KKR's previous encounter against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) and picked up two crucial wickets, conceding just 16 runs.
Speaking on JioCinema, Anil Kumble said:
"He probably would be marking his run up at the Oval. He doesn't get an over which is very strange. He's a quality bowler. Yes he gives runs but he has the knack to pick wickets as well."
Thakur has bowled just 14.5 overs in eight matches for KKR this season and has not bowled a single ball for the second time in the last three games. He did miss three games before the Gujarat Titans (GT) encounter due to a niggle.
Shardul Thakur has picked up 86 wickets in 83 games in his overall IPL career.
Despite skipper Nitish Rana's strange decision not to bowl the 31-year-old, the Knight Riders managed to restrict PBKS to a chasable total of 179/7 in their 20 overs.
In response, KKR chased the target off a last-ball boundary from Rinku Singh to climb up to fifth on the points table with five wins in 11 games and remain in playoff contention.
"That's the respect he has earned this season" - KKR skipper Nitish Rana on Rinku Singh after KKR's last-ball victory over PBKS
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Nitish Rana had high praise for 25-year-old Rinku Singh after he pulled off another spectacular finishing act against the Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens.
The left-hander scored a crucial 21* off 10 balls, including a last-ball boundary with two runs needed, and was involved in a 54-run match-winning partnership with Player of the Match Andre Russell.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rana said:
"I just keep telling him, believe in yourself because what you have achieved is something not many people ever will. When he was batting, the whole crowd was chanting 'Rinku, Rinku'. That is what he has earned this year.
"I've been at this franchise for many years now, I'm used to the Eden crowd screaming 'Russell, Russell' but to hear them shout 'Rinku, Rinku' makes me feel very happy and proud. That's the respect he has earned this season."
In KKR's third game of the season, Rinku Singh pulled off a miraculous chase, striking five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal, with 29 runs needed off five balls to help KKR beat the Gujarat Titans.
The belligerent youngster has had a breakthrough season, scoring 337 runs at an average of 56.17 and a strike rate of 151.12.
KKR will take on the Rajasthan Royals in their next game at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday, May 11.
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