Can the Kolkata Knight Riders Win IPL 2020 under Dinesh Karthik’s Stewardship?
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Kolkata Knight Riders – IPL History
The Kolkata Knight Riders were formed in 2008 and were led by Kolkata’s very own ‘Dada’, Sourav Ganguly in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The team got off to a flier, as Brendan McCullum smashed a swashbuckling 158 runs off just 73 balls. Mind you, this was the first match in IPL history, and the highest T20 score at the time!
Being unable to ride the momentum of McCullum’s flying start to the team’s IPL career, Kolkata Knight Riders ended the season at a disappointing 6th. The next two seasons of the IPL did not fare well for them as well, as they ended the season at 8th (last), and 6th respectively. This sparked a change, as the Kolkata Knight Riders opted out of buying their two former captains, Sourav Ganguly (Captain in 2008 and 2010), and Brendan McCullum (Captain in 2009) in the 2011 IPL auction.
After revamping their squad with purchasing the likes of Gautam Gambhir, for a mammoth $2.4 million, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, and Brett Lee, among other star players, the Kolkata Knight Riders squad became a heavyweight. The revamp paid dividends, as the Kolkata Knight Riders, who were led by Gautam Gambhir, won the IPL the following year (2012). They repeated their feat in 2014, after which they have not fared well in the IPL. They finished at a disappointing 5th in IPL 2019, and this has led to several key players being dropped, ahead of the IPL Auction on the 19th of December, 2019.
The Kolkata Knight Riders have dropped several star players, including the likes of Robin Uthappa, and Piyush Chawla. They have brought in former captain Brendan McCullum as their Head Coach, and have also hired David Hussey, another former player as the team’s Chief Mentor, and Kyle Mills as their Bowling Coach.
Nicknamed Knight Riders, their anthem “Korbo lorbo jeetbo” embodies their spirit of play, fight and win. The purple and golden team has won the hearts of cricket fans across India.
Important Events
Ever since winning the IPL in 2014, the Kolkata Knight Riders have fared poorly. Without their charismatic captain, Gautam Gambhir, for the second time since the 2011 IPL season, they finished IPL 2019 at a disappointing 5th. Can Dinesh Karthik inspire his team to a 3rd title? The Kolkata Knight Riders have been decisive ahead of the 2020 IPL auction, and have dropped several of their former star players, including their second-highest run-scorer last season, Chris Lynn.
- The Kolkata Knight Riders have the distinction of never losing an IPL Final. They first reached the IPL Final in 2012, beating the then-dominant Chennai Super Kings. The Chennai Super Kings have been led by MS Dhoni since the inaugural season, and have been the most consistent team in IPL history. The Chennai Super Kings put 190 runs on the board, for the loss of 3 wickets in their allotted quota of 20 overs. In turn, the Kolkata Knight Riders finished the match off in 19.2 overs, winning by 5 wickets. Manvinder Bisla, their wicketkeeper-batsman top-scored, with 89 runs off 48 balls.
- They reached the 2014 IPL Final and faced off against the King XI Punjab. The Kings XI Punjab scored 199 runs and set The Kolkata Knight Riders a target of 200 runs to win. Wriddhiman Saha scored a magnificent 115 and anchored Punjab’s innings wonderfully. In turn, the Kolkata Knight Riders chased down the target in 19.3 overs, with Manish Pandey leading the way in a thrilling chase. Pandey top-scored with 94 off 50 deliveries.
- Dinesh Karthik was appointed as the captain as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL 2018 season. They lost in the Playoffs and ended the season in 3rd place.
- The Kolkata Knight Riders drop 11 players for IPL 2020, retaining 13 players, and trading in Siddhesh Lad from the Mumbai Indians. They head into the IPL 2020 Auction with 35.65 Crore, in the quest to bring much-needed balance to their squad.
Notable Players
Dinesh Karthik must lead the Kolkata Knight Riders from the front. Karthik has had a stop-start career at the International level, and many a person was surprised when he was handed the reins to lead the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2018 IPL Season. He was the team’s 6th highest run-scorer in the 2019 edition of the IPL, scoring 253 runs at a healthy strike rate of 146.24. Dinesh Karthik has been usurped by Rishabh Pant at the International scheme of things, and he must have a strong IPL, if he is to break into the Indian team, and cement his place, once and for all.
Andre Russell – You beauty! Andre Russell is undoubtedly the Kolkata Knight Riders’ most important player. He was their top scorer last season, scoring 510 runs at a whopping strike rate of 204.83. He won the Kolkata Knight Riders many a match single-handedly (quite literally), and they will be hoping that he is fit throughout the IPL 2020 season. Notably, Russell also took 11 wickets and was the Kolkata Knight Riders leading wicket-taker. Talk about being important!
Sunil Narine is the leading wicket-taker in Kolkata Knight Riders’ history, and how desperately they need their star man to find form! Narine had a very disappointing IPL 2019 by his lofty standards, as he picked up only 10 wickets. While he contributed 143 runs with the bat, the Kolkata Knight Riders need much more from Narine if they are to reclaim the IPL throne.
Shubmann Gill is a star in the making. He is an excellent batsman, and it is only a matter of time before he gets his chance at the international level. He was played out of position throughout last year’s IPL, and he will be hoping to bat up the order in the IPL 2020. Gill scored 296 runs at a strike rate of 124.37. Mind you, his low strike rate is not a reflection of his quality, but the need of the team at the times he batted in the middle.
Nitish Rana is an often underrated player, yet he has performed well over the years. He was the Kolkata Knight Riders third-highest run-scorer last season, scoring 344 runs at a good strike rate of 146.38. They will need more runs off his bat in IPL 2020. Rana contributes with the ball as well, as he took 3 wickets in IPL 2019.
Kuldeep Yadav is a wonderful bowler who seems to have lost his way up late. He is no longer a regular in the Indian team, and he must pick up his game in IPL 2020. Yadav had a very poor IPL 2019, as he picked up just 4 wickets in 9 games. If the Kolkata Knight Riders are to win in 2020, Yadav is a key part of their plans.
Lockie Ferguson is a tearaway fast bowler, and the Kolkata Knight Riders will need him to fire at all guns blazing in IPL 2020. While he played just 5 games in IPL 2019, he picked up only 2 wickets. He remains a key part of their plans. We are hoping that the Kolkata Knight Riders pick up a good strike bowling partner in the auction, to partner with him.
News
The Kolkata Knight Riders have dropped 11 players before the 2020 IPL Auction, which is set to take place on the 19th of December, 2019. They have also traded in Siddhesh Lad from the Mumbai Indians. The Kolkata Knight Riders have released Piyush Chawla, Chris Lynn, Matt Kelly, Nikhil Naik, Prithvi Raj Yarra, Joe Denly, KC Cariappa, Shrikant Mundhe Robin Uthappa, Anrich Nortje, and Carlos Brathwaite.
The Kolkata Knight Riders, in turn, have retained Dinesh Karthik, Nitish Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Mavi, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shubmann Gill, Rinku Singh, Harry Gurney, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrier, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti. They have a purse of 35.65 Crore to spend and will be looking to strengthen all three departments.
Of the many players available to buy in the auction, the Kolkata Knight Riders may be looking at Jason Roy, Sam Curran, and Rahul Tripathi with keen interest.
Recent and Upcoming Matches
The Kolkata Knight Riders had a decent IPL 2019, and they will be looking to build on their performances, come the 2020 season of the IPL. They started IPL 2019 strongly, winning 4 of their first 5 matches. They lost their way towards the end of the tournament, winning just 2 of their last 5 games, hence losing out on qualification. They won both their games against the Kings XI Punjab, and will be hoping to extend their winning streak.
Fans are looking forward to matches contested between the Chennai Super Kings, and the Mumbai Indians, at the Eden Gardens. The Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings have retained their strong core of players and will be looking to win their 5th and 4th titles respectively. The matches contested with these two giants have historically been thrilling, full-filled matches.
Whichever team wins the season, you are sure to get power-packed performances, in the matches.
Squad List
Dinesh Karthik, Nitish Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Mavi, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Shubmann Gill, Rinku Singh, Harry Gurney, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrier, and Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Siddhesh Lad.
