Mitchell Starc’s remarkable bowling display played a pivotal role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Qualifier 1 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The former champions, SRH, were denied a direct entry into the final as a result of their top-order collapse.
Starc, along with Sunil Narine, reduced SRH to a precarious 121-6, prompting the Hyderabad franchise to introduce Sanvir Singh as their Impact Player. However, the decision to select Singh over established players like Washington Sundar, Jaydev Unadkat, or Glenn Phillips proved ineffective. Singh failed to make a significant impact, falling victim to a golden duck by Narine.
Former SRH head coach Tom Moody has attributed Sundar’s limited playing time in IPL 2024 to three primary reasons. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Moody cited Sundar’s inconsistent bowling performances and injuries as contributing factors. Despite his impressive all-around abilities, the Impact Player rule has hindered Sundar’s chances of regaining form and confidence, according to Moody.
Despite making his IPL debut against SRH in 2017, Sundar has played only two matches for the Hyderabad-based franchise in the ongoing edition. His limited opportunities have raised questions about the effectiveness of the Impact Player rule in providing him with consistent game time.
