IPL 2022: Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch set to miss Kolkata Knight Riders’ first 5 games. Find why?

Australian duo Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch will miss Kolkata Knight Riders’ first five games in IPL 2022, the team’s mentor David Hussey said on Wednesday. The 2014-champions kick off their campaign against the Chennai Super Kings on March 26. 

Hussey, during a virtual press conference, revealed that the two will be ‘cricket fit’ before playing for KKR. Finch and Cummins are currently in Pakistan. The tour ends on April 5 while Kolkata play their fifth game of the season on April 10. 

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“Well, it is a concern, you want your best players available, but international cricket should be the para-limit. Every cricketer should want to play international cricket for their countries so they have commitments that way. I think Cummins and Finch will miss the first five games but they will be cricket fit and cricket ready,” Hussey said. 

“So, once they hit the ground running, both quality people and they will fit into the dressing room perfectly well,” he added. 

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KKR have already lost a key player in Alex Hales after the Englishman withdrew from the tournament citing bubble fatigue. Finch was roped in as his replacement. 

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David Hussey further added that skipper Shreyas Iyer has a good cricketing brain and has proved his skills as a leader during his stint as Delhi Capitals captain. The 27-year-old captained DC to the final in 2020. He was bought by KKR for Rs 12.25 crore at the mega auction last month.

“Shreyas is a born leader, just the way he walks around, he commands respect. Knowing Pat (Cummins) really well, he would be a good deputy and would also lead from the front,” Hussey said.