IPL 2019: Stronger Kolkata Knight Riders set eyes on their third title
Dinesh Karthik-led team was the least fancied IPL side last year. Kolkata Knight Riders had the smallest squad size leading into the 2018 season. With injury-prone players around, critics had written off KKR from achieving substantial success in the tournament. However, the Knight Riders punched above their weight and finished at the third place.
After starting with three disappointing seasons, Kolkata restructured their IPL campaign and came back with a renewed vigor. Under Gautam Gambhir’s leadership, KKR won their maiden IPL trophy in 2012. They repeated the glorious feat in 2014. The Knight Riders have been consistently appearing in the playoff stage for the last three years.
In the auction for 2019 IPL, Knight Riders added eight players to its roster. Joe Denly, Carlos Brathwaite, Lockie Ferguson, Anrich Nortje are some of the overseas players that were signed this year. KKR had already retained its core players, and the additions will serve as the backup. The mix of experience and youth makes the East Indian team one of the favorites.
The Caribbean flavor:
West Indies cricketers are the superstars of T20 cricket. Year round, they play all around the globe and have tremendous experience of the shortest format. Kolkata Knight Riders have three West Indian stalwarts in their ranks. Sunil Narine solves KKR’s opening conundrum alongside his economical mystery spin. Andre Russell brings the finishing firepower to the team and is a valuable bowler. Carlos Brathwaite is another explosive option in Russell’s mold.
Russell-Narine is expected to be the regular playing combination for KKR with Brathwaite serving as backup. All three bring enormous value to the playing XI.
Youthful Indian contingent:
Knight Riders heavily relies on their Indian batting component. Dinesh Karthik and Robin Uthappa are the two solid pillars of KKR. Their years of wisdom stand out in the otherwise youthful squad. Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill and Rinku Singh are the upcoming batting talents and have another season to prove their skills.
Apart from Gill, Knight Riders secured the services of two more Indian Under-19 stars, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi. Both can bowl at express speed, and will strengthen KKR’s Indian pace department. Knight Riders have two mesmerizing local spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Piyush Chawla. They will be KKR’s primary weapon.
Formidable foreign pace battery:
In the player auction for IPL 2019, Kolkata franchise bought the trio of Anrich Nortje, Lockie Ferguson and Harry Gurney. All three speedsters are known for bowling with intimidating pace. Ferguson has played in the IPL before while the South African pacer Nortje and English bowler Gurney shall be making their debuts in the Indian T20 league.
Kolkata Knight Riders underwent speed deficit in IPL 2018. Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti suffered injuries while Vinay Kumar, J Searles and Mitchell Johnson were lackluster. The infusion of fresh pacers will help KKR in covering up the weaker areas.
