IPL 2023: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Squad Analysis: Heavy middle order but inexperienced top order spell imbalance. Nitish Rana to captain KKR in Shreyas Iyer’s absence.
The Kolkata-based franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) after couple of trophies in Indian Premier League (IPL) back in 2012 and 2014, will look to wipe out their poor show of the last eight years during the sixteenth season of Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2023, except in 2021 when they finished as runners-up losing the final to Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
This year will see them playing with a new set-up. Brendon McCullum is no longer their head coach, having moved to a permanent coaching job of the England Men’s Test side. In his absence, Kolkata have appointed veteran India coach – Chandrakant Pandit, under whose coaching Madhya Pradesh won Ranji Trophy 2022. He will be supported by Bharat Arun (bowling coach) and Ryan Ten Doeschate, who is their new fielding coach.
Another sub-standard season for the Knights in IPL 2022
After ending IPL 2021 as the runners-up of the IPL, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were expected to display a quality show in 2022 but even after a good start to the 15th season of IPL, they lost track midway through the competition.
KKR went off to a great start with three powerful victories in their first four games. But again, just like in the last few seasons, they lost the plot suddenly as they were handed five consecutive defeats – two of which came against the Delhi Capitals (DC). With the broad margin of these defeats, they were pegged down in the points table.
They made a strong tiny comeback at the business end of the season with three wins in four games. In order to keep themselves alive in the season depending on other few results, KKR were required to win their last game of the season against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), but they missed the train with a 2-run defeat.
The Knight Riders finished the season on seventh position with six wins and eight losses, a pattern of more defeats than victories that has been consistent for a long time in their campaigns.
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Trading of Ferguson and inclusion of Shakib among their major buys in IPL 2023 mini-auction
Before the mini-auction of IPL 2023, KKR were busy trading in Shardul Thakur from Delhi Capitals while both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Lockie Ferguson were traded from the IPL 2023 champion team, Gujarat Titans. Ferguson picked up 21 wickets in 18 IPL games playing for KKR from 2019 to 2021.
Going into the auction with a small purse of INR 7.05 crore, they made eight new picks – six of them were at base price. They acquired the services of Narayan Jagadeesan and Litton Das, both of whom can do the job of top-order batter and wicketkeeper. Litton has been in excellent touch with 130 runs in two innings at a strike rate of 203.12 against Ireland in the ongoing T20I series against Ireland.
They added left-arm Kulwant Khejroliya and leg-spinner Suyash Sharma besides bagging middle order batter Mandeep Singh. They welcomed Shakib Al Hasan who was a vital member of the KKR set-up in the past, while also picking up David Wiese who is fresh from clinching the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2023 title with Lahore Qalandars.
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Shreyas Iyer’s injury and clouds over availability of Shakib and Litton
One of the biggest injury concerns going into IPL 2023 for KKR is the absence of Shreyas Iyer at the beginning of the season due to sudden recurrence of back spasms. He has reported to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for a periodic treatment and that’s why his participation in the later stage of the IPL remains a possibility which definitely depends on how well and quickly his body recovers.
There are also clouds over the availability of both Bangladesh players – Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das. The KKR set-up is confident of having Shakib at the start of their season but Litton Das is expected to join the team after April 8 at the end of their one-off Test against Ireland.
Both of them may also leave early in the first week of May to join their national team for their three-match away ODI series against Ireland starting on May 9.
Read More: IPL 2023: Lucknow Super Giants Squad Analysis: Opening combination & bowling attack big pluses
Strengths & Weaknesses: Inexperienced upper order and heavy middle order
One of the strengths for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is their strong and heavy middle order that is full of so many all-rounders. Starting with Andre Russell, there is no doubt what the big Caribbean player could do with both bat and ball. In the last season, Russell had a strike rate of 174.47 scoring 335 runs in 14 games with a best of 70* besides picking up 17 wickets.
Sunil Narine went with an aggressive mode scoring at a strike rate of 177.50 in IPL 2022 while Rinku Singh also had a strike rate of 148.72 scoring 174 runs in seven games. Even with the ball in hand, Narine had an economy of 5.57 after bowling 56 overs in 2022, while Umesh Yadav showed his skill of picking up wickets with the new ball as he grabbed 16 wickets in 12 games at an economy of 7.06 in 2022.
Shardul Thakur will also add balance with his all-round show. Thakur has a golden tendency of making vital breakthroughs coming in the middle overs. Shakib Al Hasan has been in excellent touch with 58 runs at a strike rate of 156.76 and five wickets at an economy of 5.40 in the ongoing T20I series against Ireland.
To speak about their weaknesses, the biggest one is the absence of their leader Shreyas Iyer who earned 401 runs in 14 games during IPL 2022 at a strike rate of 134.56 including three fifties. Both Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mandeep Singh can be used at the top order but none of them has the cushion of huge experience. The newly appointed captain, Nitish Rana will be under some pressure with the extra job of leading the franchise. Venkatesh Iyer’s position in the batting order will be an interesting thing to observe.
The other huge concern for them will be finding a bowler who will bowl the death overs for them: both Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur have been sent all around the park in this phase of the game. Also, KKR will hope to find an extraordinary season from Andre Russell as an all-rounder who has his own issues with workload management.
Read More: IPL 2023 Mini-Auction: Curran, Green, Stokes, Pooran top bids; GT, LSG, SRH look settled on paper
Few uncertainties but a decent looking Knight Riders on paper
Overall, the Kolkata Knight Riders team looks to be good on paper. They have a decent looking opening option with Gurbaz and Litton Das, whereas Venkatesh Iyer could be used as an interesting option. In case of using some India players, Mandeep Singh and Jagadeesan could be good options.
Nitish Rana is expected to bat at number three while the middle order will be constructed around Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur and Sunil Narine. Using one of Shakib Al Hasan and David Wiese will depend on different conditions.
Umesh Yadav will lead the bowling attack alongside with Lockie Ferguson, while Varun Chakravarthy will be one of the spin option for them. In case of using the Impact Player, KKR may think of using the mystery spin of Suyash Sharma in the middle overs.
Probable Playing XI of KKR
Rahmanullah Gurbaz/ Litton Das (wk), Mandeep Singh/ Narayan Jagadeesan, Nitish Rana (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will open their campaign on April 1 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
