The TATA IPL 2023 season is around the corner, and all eyes are set on the Kolkata Knight Riders. The team, which started on a high note, has witnessed a downward spiral in recent years. With Chandrakant Pandit as their new head coach, replacing Bazz McCullum, KKR is looking forward to getting back to their winning ways.
Let’s have a detailed preview of their history, full squad, strongest/possible XI, strengths, weaknesses, form, the chance of winning this IPL, and schedule: Kolkata Knight Riders
History
Kolkata Knight Riders is one of the most successful teams in IPL history, having won the trophy twice, in 2012 and 2014. However, they have not made it to the playoffs since 2018, and this year, they will be looking to end their playoff drought.
Full Squad
The team released most of their players ahead of the auction, including Pat Cummins, Sam Billings, and Aaron Finch. They had a purse of INR 7.05 crore and 11 player slots. The team traded Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from other franchises. The full squad for KKR for TATA IPL 2023 includes players like Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, David Wiese, and Mandeep Singh.
Full squad of Kolkata Knight Riders:
- Chandrakant Pandit (Head Coach)
- Shreyas Iyer – Batsmen
- Nitish Rana (C) – Batsmen
- Venkatesh Iyer – All-Rounder
- Andre Russell – All-Rounder
- Sunil Narine – All-Rounder
- Umesh Yadav – Bowler
- Tim Southee – Bowler
- Harshit Rana – Bowler
- Varun Chakravarthy – Bowler
- Anukul Roy – All-Rounder
- Rinku Singh – Batsmen
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz – Batsman/Wicket-keeper
- Shardul Thakur – Bowler
- Lockie Ferguson – Bowler
- N Jagadeesan – Batsmen
- Vaibhav Arora – Bowler
- Suyash Sharma – Bowler
- David Wiese – All-Rounder
- Kulwant Khejroliya – Bowler
- Litton Das – Wicket-keeper
- Mandeep Singh – Batsmen
- Shakib Al Hasan – All-Rounder
Read: OFFICIAL: Nitish Rana to captain KKR in IPL 2023
Here is their strongest XI:
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Litton Das
- Shreyas Iyer
- Nitish Rana
- Shakib Al Hasan
- Andre Russell
- Rinku Singh
- Sunil Narine
- Shardul Thakur
- Vaibhav Arora
- Varun Chakravarthy
X-Factor
The team have been hit hard by injuries to key players, but the experienced all-rounder Andre Russell can be their X-factor for the upcoming IPL season. Russell has been a top performer for KKR in previous seasons, and with the team lacking firepower and experience, he will need to step up with both bat and ball. With the absence of Lockie Ferguson, Russell is the senior pro in the bowling lineup and needs to bowl at the death as well as in the powerplay.
KKR will also need to find a replacement for injured captain Shreyas Iyer, and Russell’s experience as a captain in the Caribbean Premier League makes him a good choice for the role. The added responsibility might bring out the best in him and help KKR reach the playoffs.
Strengths
KKR’s Indian batting lineup is their biggest strength. The team has some of the top Indian batsmen in the business, including Iyer, Rana, Venky, and Mandeep Singh, who can bat anywhere in the order. Dre Russ is one of the best finishers in the world, and when he is on song, he can dismantle any opposition easily. KKR’s spin bowling department, consisting of Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Shakib Al Hasan, provides them with the much-needed edge.
Weaknesses
One of their most significant weaknesses is the lack of an established foreign batsman. The team will have to rely on David Wiese and Rahmatullah Gurbaz to fire, which is a significant flaw. KKR’s Indian pace battery is also a point of concern.
Form
KKR did not have a good run in the last IPL, finishing fifth on the points table, with just seven wins in 14 games. In the UAE leg, they won only two out of their seven games.
Chance of Winning
KKR is expected to have a tough time in the TATA IPL 2023 season. Their squad lacks the firepower needed to go all the way in the tournament. However, if the team can come together and play as a unit, they may surprise everyone.
Kolkata Knight Riders have several issues to address ahead of the TATA IPL 2023 season. The team needs to find a way to overcome their weaknesses and build on their strengths to make it to the playoffs. Their Indian batting lineup and spin bowling department are their biggest strengths, while the lack of an established foreign batsman and concerns over their Indian pace battery are significant weaknesses.
Schedule
Kolkata Knight Riders schedule for IPL 2023 is as follows:
| Match No. | Day | Date | Match opponent | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Saturday | April 1 | PBKS | 3:30 PM | Mohali |
| 9 | Thursday | April 6 | RCB | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| 13 | Sunday | April 9 | GT | 3:30 PM | Ahmedabad |
| 19 | Friday | April 14 | SRH | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| 22 | Sunday | April 16 | MI | 3:30 PM | Mumbai |
| 28 | Thursday | April 20 | DC | 7:30 PM | Delhi |
| 33 | Sunday | April 23 | CSK | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| 36 | Wednesday | April 26 | RCB | 7:30 PM | Bangalore |
| 39 | Saturday | April 29 | GT | 3:30 PM | Kolkata |
| 47 | Thursday | May 4 | SRH | 7:30 PM | Hyderabad |
| 53 | Monday | May 8 | PBKS | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| 56 | Thursday | May 11 | RR | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
| 61 | Sunday | May 14 | CSK | 7:30 PM | Chennai |
| 68 | Saturday | May 20 | LSG | 7:30 PM | Kolkata |
The team will need to perform as a unit and address these concerns to have a chance at winning the tournament. KKR’s schedule will start with a challenging game against RCB, and they will need to hit the ground running from the start. It will be interesting to see how Chandrakant Pandit and his team strategize and adapt to different situations and opponents in the tournament. The fans will be hoping for a much-improved performance this season and an end to their playoff drought.
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