Shocking name! KKR drop Moeen Ali for a bowler who leaked 10+ runs per over in IPL 2025 – The Times of India

NEW DELHI: In a transfer that has raised greater than a few eyebrows, Kolkata Knight Riders have determined to drop seasoned all-rounder Moeen Ali in favor of Australian pacer Spencer Johnson for their IPL 2025 match in opposition to Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
The choice comes regardless of Johnson’s underwhelming numbers in the match up to now, the place he has conceded runs at a staggering economic system fee of 10.44.
Johnson’s stats inform a troublesome story: only one wicket in three matches, a median of 87.00, and a finest of 1/42.
His inclusion over Moeen, a vastly skilled campaigner with each bat and ball, has shocked followers and pundits alike.
KKR, who presently sit fifth on the desk, are underneath stress to reclaim momentum, and this choice alerts a daring and dangerous strategic shift.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane gained the toss and elected to bowl first at Eden Gardens.

With a 2-3 head-to-head report in opposition to LSG, KKR might be desperate to even the rating and climb again into the highest 4. Whether Johnson can step up and justify the religion proven in him stays to be seen.
LSG, however, made no modifications to their profitable mixture and presently sit one spot beneath KKR in sixth place.
With the league coming into its mid-season crunch, each match is popping into a should-win, and KKR’s choice may show both genius or disastrous relying on how the sport unfolds.

Playing XIs: KKR vs LSG

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.