Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Steve Smith is off a to a great start in the ongoing Indian Premier League. However, come Wednesday, he would face a stern challenge from pacer Pat Cummins against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), as warned by KKR chinaman and Australian Brad Hogg.
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Smith is off to a fine start to the tournament, having scored 119 runs in a couple of matches, at a prolific average of 59.50, including twin half-centuries. As of now, he is also the second-highest run-scorer for the side.
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Meanwhile, Cummins is off to a poor start, having claimed just a wicket in two matches, at a poor average of 68.00 and an economy of 9.71. So far, he has been the poorest of all in the side.
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Nonetheless, Hogg feels that Smith won't have it so easy and his dream start could come to a halt when he faces Cummins against KKR. He also feels that Cummins would just get better with each passing game.
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"KKR have won one and lost one. But, the game that they lost, Pat Cummins had just come out of isolation, he did not have enough work under his belt. He was a little short and a little slow," said Hogg on his YouTube channel.
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"But, that second game, he found his pace and thus, it is Pat Cummins against Steve Smith. I feel Pat Cummins will have too much pace, he will test Smith with the short ball and be successful, and win the game for KKR," he added.
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RR are off to a great start to the tournament, having won their opening two contests, courtesy of some fine batting on the flat tracks of Sharjah. Although their next game against KKR is in Dubai, Hogg says RR's high level of confidence might just make them have the upper hand.
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"The Rajasthan Royals have got their tournament off to a great start. Two good wins straightaway. The good thing about them is that they chased down a huge total, as well as defended a total. So, batsmen and bowlers will go into this game quietly confident," Hogg asserted.
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