In Mumbai for the high profile game between Mumbai Indians and KKR on Thursday, Akram said if the South African pacer was in his team, he would play at any cost. "If I had Dale Steyn in my team, I would have played him in all the games.
Many are surprised that worlds No. 1 pacer Dale Steyn has not been able to find a permanent place in the playing eleven for Sunrisers Hyderabad. And, Pakistan great and bowling coach of Kolkata Knight Riders Wasim Akram is one of them.
In Mumbai for the high profile game between Mumbai Indians and KKR on Thursday, Akram said if the South African pacer was in his team, he would play at any cost. "If I had Dale Steyn in my team, I would have played him in all the games. It all depends on what combination his team is going on with. But if you pick any side from anywhere in the world, the number one bowler will be Dale Steyn. If he was in our team, he would have played every game," Akram told reporters on Wednesday.
The Sultan of Swing is impressed with the way bowlers have evolved themselves and using a lot of variations in the Indian Premier League. "If you are a bowler, you know you are going to be hit and someday you are going to have good days. This IPL we have seen spinners getting wickets, fast bowlers getting wickets. We have witnessed a lot of variation in this IPL compared to the last year. So it means they are also evolving as bowlers," he said.
Talking about his team's bowling line-up, Akram said his job is easy since he just has to guide his "exceptional" bowlers. "KKR's bowling has been exceptional. My job is very easy. If you have bowlers like Umesh Yadav, Morne Morkel, Andre Russell, Azhar Mahmood, Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla, Brad Hogg, Shakib Al Hasan, my job is very easy. I don't go out to change their action. My job is to talk about the plans against the top batsman of the opposition."
Even as MI will be playing at their fortress Wankhede against KKR, Akram felt that the pressure will be there on both teams. "We are playing Mumbai Indians in their den. They are a good side and in good form. They won five on the trot but lost the last match against RCB. Pressure will be equally on both the sides," Akram said.
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