IPL 2024, KKR vs RR - What If...KKR Used Suyash Sharma As Their Impact Sub?

Suyash Sharma during KKR's first match in IPL 2024 [iplt20.com]Suyash Sharma during KKR's first match in IPL 2024 [iplt20.com]

The Kolkata Knight Riders crossed swords with the Rajasthan Royals in the 31st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). The Rajasthan Royals pulled off a heist to win a last-ball thriller by just two wickets. 

The Royals won the toss and invited KKR to bat first. Sunil Narine, with a brilliant knock of 109 off 56, was the standout performer as KKR posted a formidable total of 224 runs in their 20 overs. 

KKR dominated most of the proceedings in the chase, mainly when their spinners were operating. But Jos Buttler (107 off 60) kept his nerves and took the game to the last, snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat. 

KKR used Vaibhav Arora, who has done well in IPL 2024, as their impact substitute. But could they have used Suyash Sharma, the mystery spinner, instead of Arora? What could have happened if Suyash Sharma had been used as the impact sub by KKR? 


What if... Suyash Sharma was KKR's Impact Substitute?

The KKR pacers bowled 12 overs and conceded 157 runs at a run rate of 13.08. The Starc, Arora, Rana, and Russell quartet picked up only three wickets in these 12 overs. On the other hand, the KKR spin duo (Narine and Chakravarthy) bowled eight overs and conceded 66 runs while picking up four wickets. The economy rate for the spinners was just 8.25. So, the stark difference points us to the fact that KKR could have done it with one more spinner. 

Suyash Sharma impressed everyone with his bowling skills in IPL 2023. Like Narine and Chakravarthy, Sharma made his name as a mystery spinner, whom the batters struggled to read. Besides, Suyash has an economy of 8.36 while bowling at Eden Gardens. Anything around this number, even ten runs per over from him in four overs, would have tilted the game in KKR's favour. 

Besides, it was notable that the RR overseas batters, including Jos Buttler, struggled against spin. In the middle phase, they were trying to see out the overs by the spinners. One more spinner would have meant the RR batters would have to risk it against one of them, which might have led to a couple more wickets at the critical stage, even that of Buttler. But the fact that the overs of pacers were left ensured the RR batters to take the chase deep and wait for the pacers. The use of Suyash Sharma could have been a tactical genius that KKR missed.