It’s not usually {that a} alternative player turns into the spine of your facet. Yes, there have been Chris Gayles or Matheesha Pathiranas up to now however solely two in 16 years. It was a shock to many when the England wicketkeeper-batter Phil Salt went unsold on the IPL 2024 public sale, particularly days after he had hit two back-to-back centuries towards the West Indies. However, it was anticipated that he would discover a workforce as a alternative player given IPL is such an extended match and with the cricket schedule getting so gruelling, accidents and pull-outs have change into the secret.
Salt’s signing proved to be a blessing in disguise because the opening batter additionally retains the wicket and he not solely offered the steadiness to the KKR line-up but in addition the aggression on the prime. Salt simply match into the KKR jigsaw puzzle like a hand in a glove, since with Gautam Gambhir returning, Sunil Narine was again on the prime and the 2 have been let free to complete off the groups within the powerplay itself.
While Narine is given a free hand, Salt performs in a way like he has been too. Yes, he has ridden his luck on the best way having been dropped a minimum of thrice in the beginning of the innings. But each time, Salt has gone on to make it massive and now’s the main run-getter for the Knight Riders in IPL 2024.
Salt has amassed 392 runs in 9 matches at a mean of 49 and a strike fee of 180, which is excellent for an opener, who likes to take just a few further dangers in the beginning. In simply six matches on the Eden Gardens, Salt has damaged a 14-year-old document held by the Prince of Kolkata for a KKR batter with most runs on the venue in a season and he achieved the feat in entrance of him, sitting within the opposition dugout.
Salt was with the Delhi Capitals until final yr and the best way he touched the KKR badge after his fifty and the temper he was in, there was further motivation undoubtedly. Salt is presently behind his opening accomplice within the race to change into the Most Valuable Player of the match and he has given sufficient causes for KKR followers to start out considering in regards to the trophy and be a possible retention subsequent yr.
