Dale Steyn would have played every game if he was with KKR: Wasim Akram
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bowling coach Wasim Akram has taken a sly dig at the Sunrisers Hyderabad for not playing South African spearhead Dale Steyn on a regular basis, saying that he would have played every game in the IPL so far had he been with the Knight Riders. Out of the 12 games that Hyderabad have played up to this point, Steyn has played only 4 with New Zealand’s Trent Boult being preferred at various stages of the season.
"If I have Dale Steyn in my team he will be playing every game, but it depends on what sort of combination they go in with. If you pick eleven players from any side in the world, the no. 1 bowler is Dale Steyn. I am not having a go at their coach or franchise. Probably he's not in the scheme of things for them. If he had been with us he would have played every game. He's the best bowler in world cricket right now," Akram said.
Akram, who has been acting as a mentor for the KKR bowlers over the last few seasons, added that the ongoing IPL season has been the most interesting one ever as the battle for the top 4 spots has gone right down to the wire.
"Good sides are participating. We are still not sure who will qualify for the last four. It has been the most interesting IPL as far as points table is concerned," he observed.
The former Pakistan captain also had words of praise for the entire KKR bowling unit, who he reckons have made his job far easier.
"KKR's bowling is exceptional. My job is very easy. If you have fast bowlers like Umesh Yadav, Morne Morkel, Andre Russell, Azhar Mehmood, and if you have spinners like Piyush Chawla, Sunil Narine, Hoggy (Brad Hogg), Shakib ul Hasan, I don't go out and change their action. My job is about field set up and to prepare Plan A and Plan B against the top batsmen of the opposition."