After winning the title twice in 2012 and 2014, Kolkata Knight Riders have blown a bit hot and cold in the last few seasons making it to the playoffs in 2016, 2017 and 2018, while being eliminated in the group stages in 2015 and the last edition (2019).
Dinesh Karthik who leads the team for a third straight time in the season has the arsenal with both the willow and red cherry to pose a serious challenge to the top contenders and go the distance to book a spot in the business end of the tournament
The KKR squad for IPL 13 looks a formidable one on paper with a galaxy of proven match winners in the shortest format of the game. The franchise did splurge big money to acquire the services of Australian speedster Pat Cummins for Rs 15.5 crore and English skipper Eoin Morgan for Rs 5.25 crores.
DINESH KARTHIK TO BE THE BINDING FORCE IN THE MIDDLE ORDER; MORGAN, RUSSELL EXPECTED TO PROVIDE LATE FLOURISH
With the departure of their belligerent Australian opener Chris Lynn, KKR will look towards talented Punjab batsman Shubman Gill to provide the pyrotechnics up the order with Windies dasher Sunil Narine.
The ever dependable Dinesh Karthik will resume his duties as the workhorse in the middle order with one of Nitish Rana or Rahul Tripathi needing to provide the support cast to the experienced skipper. There is plenty of destructive firepower with power hitters in Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell and who can provide the late flourish to the innings with their lofty hitting.
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KULDEEP YADAV AND SUNIL NARINE WILL BE THE SPIN KINGS
Spin will play a crucial role in deciding the team's fortunes on the low and slow tracks in the UAE and KKR do have a decent spin armoury with their ever dependable Sunil Narine and star Indian leggie Kuldeep Yadav in their ranks. Besides the two frontline spinners, KKR have the luxury of throwing in slow left-arm orthodox M Siddharth and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy.
Image Courtesy: KKR Photography team
PAT CUMMINS WILL SPEARHEAD PACE ATTACK
KKR have a pretty decent seam attack with Australian speedster Pat Cummins leading the fast bowling unit with the exciting Prashidh Krishna also in the ranks ..The also have tearaway speedster Lockie Ferguson, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi who bowl with brisk pace to unleash carnage when the decks have a bit of pace and bounce.
Kolkata Knight Riders Squad For IPL Season 13:
Dinesh Karthik (captain and wicket-keeper), Eoin Morgan (Overseas), Tom Banton (Overseas), Kuldeep Yadav, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell (Overseas), Sunil Narine (Overseas), Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Nikhil Naik (wicket-keeper), Pat Cummins, Prashidh Krishna, Chris Green (Overseas), Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, M Siddharth, Sandeep Warrier, Varun Chakravarthy, Siddhesh Lad, Ali Khan (Overseas), Lockie Ferguson (Overseas).