Former India batter Manoj Tiwary has questioned Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision-making after fast bowler Sakib Hussain made a striking impact for Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday. Tiwary pointed to Hussain’s breakthrough performance and argued that KKR did not give the pacer an opportunity, despite him being part of their setup for an extended period.
Hussain shines on IPL debut as SRH win
Hussain’s IPL debut against Rajasthan Royals turned into a statement of intent. The right-arm quick finished with four wickets, including the important scalp of Yashasvi Jaiswal. His spell helped SRH overpower Rajasthan, with Hyderabad eventually winning the match by 57 runs.
The performance quickly drew praise from cricket observers and fans alike, with Hussain’s ability to swing the contest under pressure becoming a key talking point immediately after the game.
KKR connection and release ahead of auction
Tiwary said that Hussain was available within the KKR squad for years but did not get a chance to play at the highest IPL level. He also highlighted that KKR have released players who later went on to find success elsewhere.
Hussain had been part of the KKR environment between 2024 and 2025, yet he did not feature in a single match for the franchise during that period. Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, he was released, and Sunrisers Hyderabad acquired him for the base price of Rs 30 lakh.
Tiwary’s comments and the pace-bowling context
In his remarks, Tiwary compared Hussain’s situation with other examples from KKR’s recent history, citing Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer as cases where released players went on to make an impact after leaving the franchise.
- Tiwary said he had seen Hussain in the KKR squad for “many years,” but felt the youngster “wasn’t getting a chance there.”
- He added that KKR have released “some good players,” and suggested that without that release, Hussain may not have ended up at SRH.
- Tiwary also noted that the KKR release pathway has previously led to opportunities for players elsewhere, using Gill and Iyer as examples.
He said: “I have seen him; he (Sakib) was in the KKR squad for many years, but he wasn’t getting a chance there. We have seen KKR release some good players. If they hadn’t released him, then he wouldn’t have come to the Sunrisers.”
SRH debutants’ impact and KKR’s selection challenges
Tiwary also linked the broader match narrative to squad availability. He pointed out that KKR have been dealing with major issues in their pace bowling unit, especially due to injuries and unavailability.
- Harshit Rana and Akash Deep were ruled out.
- Matheesha Pathirana has not joined the franchise yet.
In Hyderabad’s win, two debutants played decisive roles by taking four wickets each. Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain both delivered standout spells, making their first outings memorable.
- Praful Hinge, aged 24, took 4/34 in his four overs.
- Sakib Hussain, aged 21, recorded 4/24 in his four overs.
Hinge and Hussain were central to SRH’s strategy, with SRH bringing Hussain in place of domestic and India veterans Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat.
Tiwary said, “No one expected two debutants to perform in this way in their very first match. The SRH bowling coaches had confidence in them and those who follow domestic cricket knew their ability.”
