Kolkata Knight Riders have done good homework before the Auction, as they covered all the basis for the upcoming season. The last season was not up to the mark for KKR, as the balance of the team disturbed due to the lack of performances. The opening of KKR was under the scanner in the previous season, as they change the stand in almost every game and try everything.
Not many changes expected in the lineup for the upcoming season, but slight tunning is required to make the 11 more balance and threatening. The new inclusion of the players will provide more balance and cushion to Captain Morgan.
Here is the playing 11 for Kolkata Knight Riders:-
1. Shubman Gill
India’s young rising star Shubman Gill played a vital role in the journey of KKR, as he holds the key at top of the order. He also has the responsibility of providing Kolkata Knight riders with a great start. He has done well in IPL, but the last season was not gone exactly the way Gill would have wanted.
Shubman Gill has played only 41 IPL games and scored 939 runs with an average of 33.54 at a strike rate of 125.2. He bats well in the powerplay and after the completion of six overs, the pace of scoring runs down in the middle overs. Shubman Gill has the game to lift the scoring rate, and he will be the game-changer in the upcoming season.
2. Sunil Narine
The West Indian all-rounder Sunil Narine has made an impression with the mystery spin in world cricket, but his flamboyant batting at top of the order makes him a great asset for the team. The season was a roller coaster for Narine, as he failed at the top of the order in the first few games then he batted in the middle overs and scored a good amount of runs.
In 120 IPL games, he has scored 892 runs with an astonishing strike rate of 164.27. The Bowling of Sunil Narine is renowned in T-20, as he concedes runs with an economy rate of below 7, and he takes the wicket of every 22nd ball.
3. Nitish Rana
Kolkata Knight Riders number 3 slot own by the Left hander Nitish Rana for a good number of seasons, as he performed well while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders.
He played 60 IPL matches and scored 1437 runs with an average of 27.63 at a good strike rate of 135.57. He anchors the inning in the middle overs and unleashes in the slog overs.
4. Eoin Morgan
England’s captain Eoin Morgan took over the captaincy in the middle of the last season and has done well. The Englishmen is renowned for the revival of English cricket in white-ball, and he’s the man who handles pressure well.
The batting stats of Eoin Morgan are not extraordinary, as he played 66 IPL games and scored 1272 runs with an average of 25.44 at a strike rate of 126.32. The records of captain Morgan at the International level are way better than IPL, as it shows the quality of the Left-hander.
5. Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik was outstanding in the middle, as the previous season was a great confidence booster for Karthik. He batted well in the middle overs and also hits some big shots at the back end.
He has a lot of experience in IPL, as he played 196 IPL games and scored 3823 runs with an average of 26.01 at a strike rate of 129.64. The impact of Dinesh Karthik in Kolkata Knight Riders is impeccable, as he performed well under pressure and helps the captain in decision-making as well.
6. Rahul Tripathi
An opener who can play at any batting position, as the last season was a roller coaster for Rahul Tripathi, he started batting in the lower order and then went at top of the order. He performed well lower down the order, as he has the big strokes which are required to close out the inning. Rahul Tripathi has done well in the IPL, as he played 45 IPL games and scored 988 runs with an average of 25.33 at a strike rate of 134.79. The right-handed batsman provides stability in the lower order and adds firepower to the lineup.
7. Andre Russell
The West Indian swashbuckling hard hitter is renowned for his blistering batting in T-20 leagues all around the globe. He has some phenomenal numbers in IPL history, as he played 74 IPL games and scored 1517 runs with an average of 29.75 at an astonishing strike of 182.33.
The West Indian All rounder can win you a game from any situation in T-20 cricket.
8. Pat Cummins
The millionaire of last season didn’t perform well, as he went for runs and doesn’t add wickets to the tally. Pat Cummins is in great form and can turn out to be an asset for Kolkata knight Riders. He has a lot of experience in white-ball cricket and generates good pace on flat decks. Cummins doesn’t have much experience in IPL, but he can dismantle the opposition on its own. He can take wickets upfront and can nail yorkers at the end.
9.Varun Chakravarthy
The bright star of last season Varun Chakravarthy is a key man for Kolkata Knight Riders in the spinning department. The Mystery of Varun Chakravarthy is hard to solve by the world’s greatest batsman. He bamboozled one of the greats of the game and has bowled economic spells.
He takes wickets after conceding 21.72 runs and takes wickets after every 18.33 balls. The economy of Varun Chakravarthy is outstanding, as he bowls with an economy rate of 7.1 in IPL.
10. Shivam Mavi
India’s young speedster performed well in the last season but went for runs as well. The pace of Mavi makes him a great wicket-taker, as the line of Mavi is deceptive.
The economy rate is on the higher side as Mavi concedes 8.93 runs per over In IPL.
He can swing the ball up front and takes early wickets and can bang the yorkers at the death overs as well.
11. Prasidh Krishna
The tall lad who generates pace and bowls over 140 kmph, has a great 2019 season with the ball but 2020 was not gone in favor of Prasidh Krishna, as he struggled in the last season. In 24 IPL matches, he leaks runs at a rate of 9.33 runs per over.
The yorkers at the death are vital for the successful team and Prasidh Krishna targets a toe crusher at the back end of the inning. Kolkata Knight Riders have a great bunch of players, as they got an armory to win the title.
The proper five bowlers and Andre Rusell the sixth bowling option strengthen the bowling lineup. The batting lineup stretched to No.7, as the force of Andre Russell at Number 7 indicates the balance of the team.
