Shocking call! KKR drop Moeen Ali for a bowler who leaked 10+ runs per over in IPL 2025

+Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Kolkata Knight Riders’ surprising decision to bench Moeen Ali for Spencer Johnson in their IPL 2025 match against Lucknow Super Giants has sparked debate. Despite Johnson’s high economy rate and limited wickets, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane chose to bowl first at Eden Gardens. Fans question the move as KKR aims to improve their standing, while LSG remains unchanged.

NEW DELHI: In a move that has raised more than a few eyebrows, Kolkata Knight Riders have decided to drop seasoned all-rounder Moeen Ali in favor of Australian pacer Spencer Johnson for their IPL 2025 match against Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens on Tuesday.

The decision comes despite Johnson’s underwhelming numbers in the tournament so far, where he has conceded runs at a staggering economy rate of 10.44.

Johnson’s stats tell a difficult story: just one wicket in three matches, an average of 87.00, and a best of 1/42.

His inclusion over Moeen, a vastly experienced campaigner with both bat and ball, has surprised fans and pundits alike.

KKR, who currently sit fifth on the table, are under pressure to reclaim momentum, and this selection signals a bold and risky strategic shift.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and elected to bowl first at Eden Gardens.

With a 2-3 head-to-head record against LSG, KKR will be eager to even the score and climb back into the top four. Whether Johnson can step up and justify the faith shown in him remains to be seen.

LSG, on the other hand, made no changes to their winning combination and currently sit one spot below KKR in sixth place.

With the league entering its mid-season crunch, every match is turning into a must-win, and KKR’s decision could prove either genius or disastrous depending on how the game unfolds.

KKR: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy.

LSG: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c&wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi.

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.Read More

End of Article