Kolkata Knight Riders have had a miserable experience in both IPL editions. They have the worst record amongst all teams in the league having lost 16 of the 26 matches they have played till date. They have also been beset by controversies, like the multiple captain issue. They have corrected some of their past mistakes and are looking to turn the tide under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly.
Strengths:
They have a very good coach in Dav Whatmore, who has always given great results with underdog teams. Their biggest strength lies in their batting line-up. Even with the exclusion of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum, they have a line-up that includes Sourav Ganguly, Brad Hodge and Owais Shah. They also have in their ranks Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who has been in great touch of late. The inclusion of Rohan Gavaskar and Manoj Tiwary will add much needed stability to the middle-order. Be it Ajit Agarkar or Ishant Sharma, the KKR bowling attack can pack a punch. In Charl Langeveldt they have one of the best bowlers in the death overs. Another point to keep in mind is Ganguly’s tenacity and urge to prove a point after making a comeback, which could drive the Knight Riders to the top.
Weaknesses:
Their greatest strengths can also be their greatest weakness. The lack of discipline and consistency has time and again let the team and its fans down. The team, which collapsed to 95 all out in one of the games last year, even with the likes of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum, could on a bad day meekly surrender to the opposition. The Knight Riders have been also never bound together as a cohesive unit and all their wins have been based on individual efforts. Their local players especially have failed to deliver the much needed support to the star batting line-up for them to win. Their bowling also has been weak and only when Kiwi paceman Shane Bond comes into the picture would they appear to have strength to defend meagre totals. Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis is no longer a secret weapon and most opposition players have been able to decode his action.
Opportunities:
IPL 2010 could be the launch pad for many of the Kolkata Knight Riders. Wriddhiman Saha, who has had a few useful knocks, would relish using the opportunity provided by Brendon McCullum’s absence to knock on the national selectors doors. Young off-spinner Iqbal Abdulla could use this exposure to not only learn some tricks of the trade but also catch the eye of the selectors. Good performances by Ishant Sharma and Ajit Agarkar could stand them in good stead when it’s time to select the team for the T20 World Cup. Mohnish Parmar, considered to be India’s answer to Muralidaran, should grab this opportunity to establish himself in the national scheme of things.
Threats:
Mumbai: The Kolkata Knight Riders have changed their jersey colour. And it could be to lure Lady Luck onto their side.
The Knight Riders, who had in the earlier two editions turned out in black and gold jerseys, will now be seen in purple and gold. While unveiling the new jersey in Mumbai on Tuesday, team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan said he was hoping the purple jerseys would attract more women fans to his team.
The Bollywood superstar emphasised that superstition wasn’t the reason behind the change, but the changes were to allow the Knight Riders to have a fresh start in the 2010 season. "We have not changed because of superstition," Shah Rukh said. He said he wanted his team to leave the past behind and look ahead.
"It's difficult to be upbeat when you are not doing well but that is where I come in. We can't keep on living with what happened in the last two years and keep on thinking 'aisa hua, waisa hua'. I want the team to make a fresh start," Shah Rukh said.
"I am told the girls like it (the purple colour). So we hope to make a lot of money and have the girls on our side and hopefully we will win," the star said in a lighter vein.
Shah Rukh also rubbished the notion of him quitting the franchise due to his team’s bad run in the tournament. “I have never equated the team’s performance with making money. Hopefully, however, the team will start to win more matches in the coming weeks,” he said.
The Knight Riders captain, Sourav Ganguly said that he wanted his team to play without fear of failure and expressed the hope that the local players would do well. "I want the team to play freely; have fun, and let there be no pressure on anyone. Hopefully the local players will fire for themselves and for the team. A good performance in the IPL would get them a look-in into the national team."
The team’s bowling coach, Wasim Akram said, “I have not done something like this before. This team has a lot of talent and the boys have worked hard. I believe they will do well.”
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders had a practice game in Mumbai on Tuesday against a local club. The Knight Riders won the match by 27 runs, with Englishman Owais Shah and Rohan Gavaskar delivering solid knocks and most of the bowlers finding their rhythm.
