Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a team so popular; was so much into promotion of its team and collecting revenues, it looked as if they have forgotten cricket! However after this year’s auction the team looks fresh to start a wonderful season of IPL under the command of Gautam Gambhir. At $2.4 million, it is the highest bid placed on any player this IPL season. This expensive price tag will command him to prove worthy of it; being a captain as well as a player individually. One can be sure that he does not lack the experience of captaincy as in the previous version of IPL he was the captain of Delhi Daredevils.

The 2011 IPL season has a good number of classy all-rounders all whom are in good forms. The team comprises of Shakib Al Hasan, Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan, Jacques Kallis, Manoj Tiwary, Utkrisht Raithwal, Eoin Morgan, Brad Haddin, Jaidev Unadkat, ,Ryan ten Doeschate, James Pattinson, L Balaji, Iqbal Abdulla, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Manvinder Bisla, Shreevats Goswami, Rajat Bhatia, Mohammad Shami Ahmed, Pradeep Sangwan, Brett Lee and Sarbajit Ladda.

Kallis’s best attribute is that he is highly game  adaptable, Pathan is a dynamite waiting to combust and Morgan is the definitive finisher, Doeschate’s  innings against England in the World Cup ensured ample respect for himself.

Unfortunately for L. Balaji, a neophyte in the Kolkata team, it might be a difficult experience to bowl against his erstwhile home team. Brad Haddin and Brett Lee, and Shakib are all busy with the one-day series beginning on Saturday. So this means that they will miss their services and Doeschate, Kallis, Morgan, James Pattinson probably will play the opening match against IPL 3 winners Chennai Super Kings.

The biggest challenge for Knight Riders , will be performing and wining the matches at Eden Gardens .The local spectators who are already irate by Ganguly not being included in the team, might be not quite supportive and encouraging. The Knight Riders have an odd tendency to perform better on home ground Eden Garden than other places. They have won six of their seven matches in home comfort last season

KKR has a good batting lineup with Kallis, Pathan, Manoj Tiwary and Laxmi Ratan Shukla, and captain Gambhir. It also has a well balanced bowling group comprising of Balaji, Pathan, Iqbal, Pradeep Sangwan, and Jaidev Unadkat along with big shots Kallis, Morgan and Pattinson.

Having lost their first match against Chennai Super Kings with a meager 2 runs, things look good for KKR than the previous season!

Tags: Cricket, Indian Premier League, IPL, IPL 2011, IPL 4, KKR, Kolkata Knight Riders