Vinay Kumar still hopeful of playing IPL 2019: The unsold pacer has made public his opinion of featuring in the 12th season of the IPL.
Despite remaining unsold in the IPL Auction, India pacer R Vinay Kumar is hopeful of playing IPL 2019. With a base price of INR 50 lakh, Vinay Kumar failed to allure any buyer in the auctions held in December.
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Vinay Kumar had played only a couple of matches for Kolkata Knight Riders last season. He picked up two wickets at an average of 32.50, a whopping economy rate of 16.95 and a strike rate of 11.50.
Despite Kolkata losing some key bowlers, Vinay Kumar was seen lacking behind in the race from rookie bowler like Shivam Mavi and Prasidh Krishna. In the last three IPL seasons, he has played a total of six matches.
What we call our #Knights – 2⃣
Do you have some more LYNNSANE names for @lynny50 🤔#KKRHaiTaiyaar #KorboLorboJeetbo 💜 pic.twitter.com/ZGbyV2H51X
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) February 28, 2019
Here is one for your desktop. 🖥️#WallpaperWednesday pic.twitter.com/UsAxA3KZxK
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) February 27, 2019
“Still hopeful of a call-up”
In an interview with Sportstar, Vinay Kumar said that he is hopeful of a call-up because of possible niggles to other bowlers during the tournament. “I am still hopeful of a call-up because it’s a long tournament and some niggles here and there to some player might open the door for me,” Vinay Kumar was quoted as saying.
The veteran bowler also mentioned that he was KKR’s go-to bowler before IPL 2018. However, things changed once the season started. The 35-year old cricketer also seemed let down by other franchises judging him on the basis on two below par matches.
“Before the 2018 IPL began, I was KKR’s go-to bowler in the nets as well as all the practice games. But once the season started, I got only two matches where I was asked to bowl the first and the 20th over. It’s a very challenging ask to bowl an over each at the start and at the death.
Brisk, Unbeaten & Victorious 🙌@RealShubmanGill – 7⃣0⃣* off 40@rinkusingh235 – 5⃣6⃣* off 37
Piyush Chawla – 4⃣1⃣* off 13 & 1/23 #SyedMushtaqAliTrophy #KKRHaiTaiyaar #KorboLorboJeetbo pic.twitter.com/gcwXv2C7L1— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) February 27, 2019
The clock is ticking! ⏰
We are just 2⃣5⃣ days away from our first #IPL2019 encounter 🏏#KKRCountdown #KKRHaiTaiyaar #KorboLorboJeetbo #VivoIPL 💜 pic.twitter.com/UFM0Eyug6Q
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) February 27, 2019
So, if people made up their minds after watching me in just two matches, then I don’t know what to say,” Vinay Kumar said.
In the IPL, Vinay Kumar has also played for Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. In 105 IPL matches, he has dismissed 105 batsmen at an average of 28.24, an economy rate of 8.39 and a strike rate of 20.20. He is currently playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Karnataka.
