Kolkata Knight Riders appoint Bharat Arun as their new Bowling Coach
Two-time Indian Premier League champions Kolkata Knight Riders have replaced Kyle Mills as their bowling coach to hire Bharat Arun. KKR had a very good season last year (IPL 2021) as they were the runners-up in the competition. Especially in the second phase in the UAE, they were simply the best team in the league. But if anyone talks about the first half of the last season, they were dreadful. The pace bowling attack was not good enough in the last 4 years and it was the weakest link of the side. Picking up wickets in the power play was a serious concern, something Bharat Arun needs to improve drastically.
Arun had a short International career for India and made only two appearances in Test cricket and four in ODIs between 1986 and 1987. His coaching career with India lasted long as he was in charge of Indian bowling twice. He guided the India U-19 team to win the World Cup in 2012 before taking charge of the senior team from 2014-15 and from 2017 to the end of the T20 World Cup in 2021. Google cricket showcases his short and sweet stints that had some positive implications on the national team.
The Latest Changes Happening Within The KKR Camp; Will There Be A Major Overhaul In The IPL Side?
Arun already coached the Bengal team in the domestic cricket and this time returns to Bengal to take charge of the KKR bowling attack. There will be some new purchases in the bowling lineup as KKR did not retain any of their quick bowlers. Varun Chakraborthy and Sunil Narine are the only retentions in the bowling department.
Venky Mysore, Knight Riders’ CEO & MD, said in a statement, “Very excited to have someone of the caliber of Bharat Arun joining us as our bowling coach. Will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to KKR’s strong support staff. We are delighted to welcome him to the Knight Riders family.”
“Very excited and looking forward to becoming part of a highly successful franchise, such as the Knight Riders,” Arun said. “I have admired the Knight Riders franchise for not only being very successful in the IPL and around the world in T20 leagues but also for the way it is very professionally run.”
What Impact Will This Cause On The Overall Performance Of The Team In The IPL 2022 Season?
Arun is highly praised for shaping up the Indian bowling attack in recent years. Likes of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj all thrived under him. Arun was in charge of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team in 2016 which were the runners-up in the competition in that year.
“With a strong and successful pedigree in the international game, I’m sure Arun will complement the current staff we have and I look forward to working with him,” Brendon McCullum, the Knight Riders head coach, said. “His experience at international level and the ability to give confidence and clarity to our bowling group will be important, as we attempt to quickly align a new group of players to the values and style of play for KKR.”
At first, the newly made Ahmedabad franchise was linked with him to sign but talks did not finalize and KKR got the man they wanted.
Can The Kolkata Knight Riders Challenge For The IPL Title In The Upcoming Season?
KKR were not able to get the job done in the previous edition of the IPL. They were unable to beat the Chennai Super Kings but did fight hard to make it to the final of the tournament, after a rather slow start to the campaign.
The team did see some ups and downs right through the IPL 2021 edition but eventually make up at the grand stage of the knockouts, where it did matter eventually. They were able to end the campaign on a real high note, despite losing in the final. The team played like a unit, though it is unfortunate that they had to be dismantled like all other teams.
With that being said, the team will now want to rebuild for the upcoming campaign and get the balance right. There have been some changes right at the top and it will be interesting to see the players that KKR does sign.
