Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – IPL 2019
5 min read
Introduction
I don’t know about others but I feel that Carlos Brathwaite for 5 crores and Lockie Ferguson for 1.6 crores are great buys. KKR went into the auction to buy batting, all-rounders and spinners reserves and to build a fast-bowling lineup. I’d say they were quite successful in doing so. On paper, the KKR team looks as strong as ever and DK showed us last year that he is more than a capable captain.
Suggestive Playing XIs
Mihir’s SWOT Analysis
strengths
- KKR is the team with the best spinners in the tournament, which does justice to the fact they play half their matches at Eden Gardens, a known turner.
- KKR can also boast of a quality bench strength, especially when it comes to all-rounders.
weaknesses
- As much as the partnership of Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine seems intimidating, I’ll have to say that the overall batting of KKR looks a tad bit weak.
- Given that Nitish Rana’s form can’t be predicted,Shubman Gill is relatively new and the opening partnership can’t be trusted, the onus falls on Robin Uthappa to don various roles. With not much T20 under his belt in recent times, it becomes all the more difficult for him to get into the groove quickly.
opportunities
- There are plenty of opportunities for KKR. One of them is for Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana. Shubman Gill can have an impressive season and really extend his case for an elongated India run.
- Sunil Narine is most likely to be given another shot at the top of the order along with Chris Lynn. There is an opportunity for him to wash his hands by some boundaries and get some confidence into his bowling.
threats
- While many of the international players have been playing around the globe in other T20 leagues, none of them have received the intense match practice which would have ideally prepared them for this edition of IPL.
- Specially for batsmen, I feel there will be a lot of role adjustments, often based on the demand of the situation. This could lead to an unsettled feeling.
- KKR fans want Mavi and/or Nagarkoti to play. There’s a huge threat if the KKR management gives in to this desire immediately, especially because Mavi hasn’t played any sort of T20 match since last IPL and Nagarkoti hasn’t played any sort of match since last February.
key player
Kuldeep Yadav —> I have talked about KKR for about 400 words with no mention of Kuldeep Yadav. That doesn’t rule out the fact that he is a key member of this lineup. Match after match, either he controls the runs from one end or picks up wickets, sometimes doing both of them together. Along with that ability, he has the unique ability to turn matches on their heads with quick wickets as well. His good form adds to the potency he could exhibit in the upcoming edition of IPL.
prediction
I feel KKR will not make it to the playoffs, though there is an outside chance they make it to the final four.
Samrat’s SWOT Analysis
strengths
- It looks like the team has got all the bases covered. From the explosive openers in Chris Lynn and Sunil Narine to the settled middle order due to Shubman Gill, Robin Uthappa, and Dinesh Karthik, the team has one of the strongest batting line-ups in IPL 2019.
- Andre Russell and Carlos Brathwaite are dangerous all-rounders.
- The team also has 3 young fast bowlers in Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi and M Prasidh Krishna.
- The spin trio of Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, and Sunil Narine will be dangerous against any team.
weaknesses
- The fast bowling department is not experienced. Prasidh Krishna and Shivam Mavi are young and the team does not have anyone experienced bowler to guide them.
- With Chris Lynn not available for the second half of the tournament, KKR will have to bank on Joe Denly who has had a good run in the Big Bash League.
- Minimum bench strength, both, quantitative and qualitative.
opportunities
- A team with maximum Indian emerging players and new captain face is really going to help the team emerge as early favourites in this year’s tournament.
threats
- Batting replacements for the current XI is difficult to find specially at the second half of the tournament at the time of World Cup. Overseas players might leave the team halfway.
key player
Andre Russell —> The kind of availability and fitness he is showing this year, he might just win MVP for 2019 IPL as well.
prediction
Yes, it’s very likely KKR will make it to the playoffs.
Roster
