Roy bowled the first and third overs of DC’s innings, and gave away just 18 runs. The two wickets, of Pathum Nissanka and Tristan Stubbs, came later – both in the 11th over – and he finished with 2 for 31 in four overs. In an exceptional performance from KKR in the field, the stunner Roy took at deep midwicket to send Axar Patel packing came even later, in the 19th over.
The upcurve in performance might be a result of being in KKR’s XI right through the tournament so far, one of only seven players to have played all ten games.
“I think all of that – he’s a really good package. Today he took a good catch, but he was a little off the mark [before this game]. But generally, he’s a gun fielder as well. So he’s had a good season, the fact that the confidence shown in him, the clarity, all of those things add up.”
It is starting to happen now. First, there was the 29 not out 16 balls to take KKR past Rajasthan Royals. And now this. Opportunities with the bat have been few, but Roy has picked up eight wickets in 20.1 overs, and has an economy rate of 8.87 in IPL 2026.
“Quite often, you are overlooking guys who can do jobs, like Anukul. Proven domestic performers who could come in and do a job if you need them for a couple of games. It’s good that guys like Anukul Roy are getting opportunities because you could easily get overlooked for the next flashy toy.”
“I’m 100% ready to bowl four overs, [but] we’ve got Anu, who has been exceptional for us bowling one or two overs, so that means I can only bowl two or three overs,” Green said in the press conference after KKR’s win on Friday. “So yeah, it has been a really big help, having allrounders to potentially bowl through the middle, and I can bowl in the powerplay and potentially the death, or through the middle as well. We’ve got six guys that we can go to, and obviously myself and Anu are the allrounders there, so we just help each other out and bowl our four overs.”