- Sunday, March 30, 2025
The England off-spinner worked well in tandem with the Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and choked Rajasthan Royals in the middle overs to restrict them to 151
By: India Weekly
A CANDID Moeen Ali, who temporarily but successfully filled the void of Sunil Narine during Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL match against Rajasthan Royals, says he is “used to bowling with someone who is better than me.”
Part of a KKR attack that also has Varun Chakaravarthy in its ranks, the England off-spinner worked well in tandem with the Indian mystery spinner and choked RR in the middle overs to restrict them to 151 for nine in their contest in Guwahati on Wednesday.
“My job was to keep it tight, so that he can build the pressure and maybe get wickets. I’m used to bowling with someone who is better than me and has more mystery than me. My job is to bowl as tight as I can and hopefully that builds pressure for that person to then get wickets,” Moeen said at the post-match press conference.
“Varun is bowling outstandingly well as we know and he is a brilliant bowler. He has improved so much over the last two-three years. It is amazing to bowl with somebody like that,” he added.
While the 37-year-old Moeen rose to the challenge to return impressive figures of 2/23 from four overs, his younger spin colleague Chakaravarthy finished with 2/23 in his full quota of four overs.
RR enjoyed a fruitful Power Play, scoring 54 runs in the first six overs but the introduction of spin changed the complexion of their innings.
Moeen dismissed Yashasvi Jasiwal in his second over but his best moment of the game came when he sent back Nitish Rana with a classic off-spinner that turned away sharply from the left-handed batter to hit the middle stump.
“That ball was a nice one. I was just trying to spin it as much as I could. I knew that there was a bit of pressure being built and I just tried to bowl in a good area, spin it as much as I could.
“I don’t have the skill as other bowlers but my job is to contain as much as I can, not get hit for six over my head. If they play good shots and hit me for fours and sixes, then I’m pleased with that. My skill is that I think like a batter, so I think what they think and it works in my favour.”
Narine was unavailable for the match in Guwahati due to illness, forcing KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane to turn to the former England international hours before the game.
T20 is an unforgiving format and Moeen admitted that bowlers need to evolve to keep challenging the batters.
“India is a great place to bat. But on wickets like this, you aren’t going to get 300, you probably aren’t even going to get 200. It’s great to have these games in between those (high scoring) games.
“Big scoring games are great to see but it also gives a false sense of security, which is a bit too much. The game is developing fast and people are just fearless at the moment. The bowlers do have to come up with something, it is more important than ever before,” Moeen said.
Rahane lauds Moeen
Moeen Ali was an eleventh-hour inclusion in KKR’s playing eleven due to Sunil Narine’s injury and skipper Ajinkya Rahane couldn’t be more chuffed about his game-changing spell against the Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
“Moeen got his opportunity, and he bowled really well. Credit goes to our bowling unit too who were always looking to pick wickets,” skipper Rahane said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Asked if Moeen was given any strategic instruction from the team management, Rahane replied in the negative.
“Not much, complete freedom from our side. Moeen is a quality player who has opened in the past. He couldn’t get going with the bat, but very happy with what he did with the ball.
“The challenge is to stay in the moment, and every game is an opportunity to learn,” the KKR skipper added.
Moeen, who has already quit international cricket, said that he didn’t let up his intensity in training despite knowing that he would have to wait for his turn with Chakravarthy and Narine being a settled spin bowling pair.
“I have been practising well. I was told this morning that Sunil was not well. It was hard to replace Sunil, but I did a fair job.”
