Shahbaz plays down Bishnoi’s high economy rate, says impact more important

Ravi Bishnoi will be a key bowler for Lucknow Super Giants when it takes on KKR in Kolkata on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI

Lucknow Super Giants all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed said the team’s injured bowlers were recovering and the bowling attack was getting better.

“If four bowlers (Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan) are injured and are not available, then there is a concern…All those things have settled down. Akash is available. Avesh is also available. Mayank, I hope, will be available soon,” said Shahbaz ahead of Super Giants’ IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday.

Referring to spinner Ravi Bishnoi’s high economy, he said the brand of cricket had changed. “There’s not much discussion about the economy. It’s just about how to make an impact, how to take wickets.”

Shahbaz, who plays domestic cricket for Bengal, said in domestic cricket, the pitch (mostly for red ball cricket) was different and helped the pacers. “Looking at this pitch, it seems that the ball will stop. There is hope for runs. It will be helpful for the spinners.”

KKR assistant coach Ottis Gibson hoped the Indian pace pair of Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana would click.

“The key is to take wickets with the new ball, which we did (against SRH). Both Vaibhav and Harshit have done very well.

“We know how hard Vaibhav is working with D.J. Bravo in terms of strategies, how to set up his overs and how to look to take wickets. That’s working very well and hopefully that will continue to work,” said Gibson.