Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will play their first match in the Indian Premier League against Sunrisers Hyderabad at home on March 23. Could not make it to the playoffs last season. The team last won the title in 2014.
After the withdrawal of English batsman Jason Roy from the current season, the team is once again facing the problem of opening. In such a situation, the responsibility of top order will be on captain Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey. In the last auction, the franchise had bought 10 players including 4 foreign players by spending Rs 31.35 crore. These include 7 capped and 3 uncapped.
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Mitchell Starc, Sunil Narine, Suyyash Sharma, Varun Vakravarthy.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Impact Player: Manish Pandey.
This season, Kolkata Knight Riders has a strong middle order, excellent all-rounder and a sharp bowling attack. The top order of the team may have to struggle. There are batsmen like Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine in the middle order. Captain Shreyas Iyer can take command along with Manish Pandey and Venkatesh in the top order.
Dushmantha Chameera has been included in the bowling in place of Gus Atkinson, Mitchell Starc is already present. There are bowlers like Varun Chakraborty and Chetan Sakariya.
Strong batting: Captain Shreyas Iyer is making a comeback from injury this season and the franchise had bought Manish Pandey in the last auction. Both of them are strengthening the batting of the team.
Power hitters in the middle order: Kolkata's middle order is looking fantastic. It has names like Sunil Narine, Sherfan Rutherford and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The middle order has power hitters like Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Phil Salt. Who can finish the match.
Bowling: Starc will make the difference. The team has fast bowlers like Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera. Also, Varun Chakraborty is handling the spin bowling along with Afghan spinner Majeeb ur Rehman.
Opener: No, after the departure of English batsman Jason Roy, Kolkata does not have a specialist opener. In such a situation, the team will have to make do with alternative players. The team's openers have been struggling for the last two seasons.
Backup pacers are weak: Atkinson Hate, the team's backup pacers are weak. Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera are playing. But in his absence the pace attack may be in trouble. Lack of experience in Indian bowling can cause harm.
Shreyas Iyer Form: Captain Shreyas Iyer is making a comeback after a long time. In such a situation, his form and fitness is a matter of concern. Recently, Iyer did not participate in the Ranji match due to back problem, although the NCA team had declared him fit.
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