S Mavi stats: Why is Kamlesh Nagarkoti not playing today’s match vs Rajasthan Royals?

Kamlesh Nagarkoti not playing: The fast bowler from Kolkata Knight Riders has been benched for their match against RR.

During the 18th match of the ongoing 14th season of the Indian Premier League between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai, Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson has won the toss and chose to field.

“We are going to bowl because it has helped the bowlers bowling first here in these conditions. I like to appreciate the team members, management and everyone in the team, they are coping up with it really well as there are a lot of positives even after losing few key players.

“We haven’t said much, in a tournament like IPL there are going to be ups and downs, it is about trusting your players and playing some good cricket,” Samson told Star Sports at the toss.

Being asked about the changes made to their Playing XI, Samson mentioned that they’ve included batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal and fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat for batsman Manan Vohra and spinner Shreyas Gopal.

Why is Kamlesh Nagarkoti not playing vs Rajasthan Royals?

Much like Samson, Kolkata Knight Riders captain Eoin Morgan also wanted to field first. Taking inspiration from their unbelievable last match against Chennai Super Kings despite it ending in a loss, Morgan hoped to “rectify” things tonight.

“We would have liked to bowl first. I think everybody would be in the same boat. We did play a game the other night where 220 seemed to be enough. We are playing our second game at the Wankhede and we are better off knowing the conditions. The game that is played here suits our game and hopefully we can rectify them today.

“It was a great game of cricket. The character the guys showed to get to the position we were in at the end was absolutely outstanding, our middle and lower order coming good in the game against a really strong side,” Morgan told Star Sports at the toss.

As far as Knight Riders are concerned, they have made a solitary change by including Shivam Mavi for Kamlesh Nagarkoti. In the only match Nagarkoti had played this season, he had leaked 25 runs in two overs. “Just a change of gameplan and it is a match-up change,” Morgan said with respect to their lone change.

Mavi, who had made his IPL debut for Knight Riders in 2018, has picked 14 wickets at an average of 34.43, an economy rate of 8.93 and an economy rate of 23.14.