'Lockie Ferguson is someone who will win you games' - Ajit Agarkar bats for KKR pacer's inclusion in the playing XI

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have experienced a poor start to the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Eoin Morgan led outfit has won just 1 out of the 5 matches that they played in the tournament, and are currently languishing at the last place in the points table.

And now, Ajit Agarkar has stated that Lockie Ferguson should find a place in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) playing XI. Stating that the Kolkata batting lineup is brimming with talent, Agarkar said that the Eoin Morgan led side is not playing well enough.

He added that the Kolkata side has the talent in their arsenal to post match-winning totals. The former Indian pacer also stated that Lockie Ferguson should come into the side in place of either Eoin Morgan, Pat Cummins, or Sunil Narine.

“For a batting line-up which is full of talent, full of ability, they’re just not playing well enough. You could excuse a couple of pitches in Chennai and say ‘Oh, those were tough wickets maybe and that’s why they didn’t get their rhythm’, but here (in Mumbai) you’ve got no excuse.

Maybe this wasn’t a 200-run pitch but sure they (KKR) have enough talent to get to 160, which then almost becomes a match-winning total. And if you take my opinion, they should take a look at someone like Lockie Ferguson to come into the playing XI, whether it is at the expense of an Eoin Morgan or Pat Cummins or a Sunil Narine. He’s someone who’ll win you games on these pitches,” said Agarkar as quoted by TOI.

Ajit Agarkar heaps praise on Lockie Ferguson

Ajit Agarkar further stated that Lockie Ferguson provides something different to the KKR bowling attack. He concluded by stating that Ferguson has pace and can also take wickets as well.

“Lockie Ferguson, when he came into that team last season in the UAE, you could see he provided something different to the bowling attack. He had a lot of raw pace and wicket-taking ability. As good as their (KKR) seamers are, I can’t see them blowing teams away. Ferguson, on his day, has that ability,” concluded Agarkar.

Former South African bowling great Dale Steyn said that some of the strategies that the Kolkata outfit adopted did not materialize on the field, and the players are now wondering what their role in the side is. Steyn concluded by stating that some of the decisions that the Eoin Morgan led side have taken have been strange.

“In the first (IPL) game they played (this season), they had some amazing strategy. Since then, some of the strategies and plans haven’t come off and now players wonder what their role is. With KKR, we’ve seen a lot of different kinds of strategies, a lot of different tactics, and out-of-the-box thinking. And it hasn’t quite worked for them since the first game. It’s strange, some of the decisions they have been making,” concluded Steyn.