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'There Could Be One Problem...': Aakash Chopra's Warning To KKR Ahead Of Clash Vs SRH

KKR will miss services of Phil Salt [AP]KKR will miss services of Phil Salt [AP]

Aakash Chopra, a former player of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) turned cricket analyst,  discussed KKR's vulnerabilities ahead of their qualifier game against Pat Cummins led  Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) tonight.

KKR secured the top spot in the IPL group stage, maintaining their form consistently, unlike Rajasthan Royals who stumbled midway and dropped to third place.

One of KKR's strengths was their formidable opening combination of Narine and Salt. However, KKR will face SRH without Salt, who has departed for national duty in England.

Aakash Chopra's Phil Salt warning to KKR

Aakash Chopra cautions KKR about the potential impact of Salt's absence, suggesting that Sunrisers Hyderabad might exploit this gap in their lineup. 

Salt was KKR's second-highest run-scorer, amassing 435 runs in 12 matches. His partnership with Sunil Narine at the top of the order consistently provided KKR with solid starts, making his absence a significant concern for the team.

"There could be one problem for sure. This season, Phil Salt greatly contributed to this team's success. The starts he used to give with Sunil Narine suddenly put the opposing team on the back foot and they used to find it very difficult to emerge from that many times. However, Phil Salt isn't there now," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Afghanistan's wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz steps in as the replacement for Salt. On a positive note, he brings experience playing at the Narendra Modi Stadium, having been a part of the Gujarat Titans squad previously.

Shreyas Iyer form to be key?

Aakash Chopra highlights a cause for concern regarding Shreyas Iyer's lack of form. As the captain of KKR, Iyer's performance has been underwhelming, managing just 287 runs at an average of 31.88 this season.

"The second problem is that Shreyas Iyer hasn't scored that many runs this year. He has played a slightly anchor-type role whereas all players around him come like rocket launchers. He even said that he has an anchor's role this time. So he is anchoring but the season hasn't been the way you expect it to be,"-Chopra added.

Aakash Chopra also expressed concerns about Rinku Singh's form and Starc's unpredictable performance issues. 

While Narine and Salt's strong starts often masked these issues, their absence tonight could expose KKR's vulnerabilities, warns Chopra.