IPL 2021: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Team Profile Overview, Stats, Auctions Analysis, Season-Wise Performance, Full Schedule and Squad
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are one of the most followed teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They are also one of the more successful teams as they have got their hands on the trophy twice. Ever since lighting up the first day of the inaugural edition of the tournament that saw current head coach Brendon McCullum smash 158*, the side has been one that is never underestimated.
Last season, KKR finished 5th in the points table as they narrowly missed out on making it to the playoffs on net run-rate. They were frustrated by a thrilling last-over loss in a crucial match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) that saw them lose out on the playoffs. The side also had a change of captaincy midway through last season as Dinesh Karthik handed over the reins to Eoin Morgan who will continue to lead this year as well.
At the auction, KKR were among the quieter teams as they did not have a lot of slots to fill, having retained a majority of their players. Their best buy was Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan while the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Ben Cutting could turn out to be smart ones as well.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Team Overview
Let’s take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of the franchise.
Strengths:
KKR have plenty of explosive overseas batsmen as well as reliable Indian batters to hold the batting line-up in good stead. The likes of Andre Russell, Eoin Morgan, Ben Cutting, Tim Seifert and Sunil Narine can all win a game on their own. Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik and Rahul Tripathi can also be counted upon to come good consistently.
KKR’s spin attack is also terrific. The likes of Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav will now have Harbhajan Singh, Pawan Negi and Shakib Al Hasan for company making it one of the best spin attacks in the tournament.
Weaknesses:
The players’ form will be the biggest cause for concern for KKR. Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav haven’t been in the best of touches in recent times. Shakib Al Hasan is just returning from a one-year ban. The players might hence, be rusty when the tournament begins.
KKR’s pace attack lacks a bit of reliability as well. Although they have two world class pacers in Pat Cummins and Lockie Ferguson, team combination might make it difficult for both to play meaning uncapped Indian pacers like Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti will have to be relied upon.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Season Wise Performance
Year | Captain | Result | Top Batsman | Runs | Top Bowler | Wickets | Win % |
2020 | Dinesh Karthik/Eoin Morgan | 5th | Shubman Gill | 440 | Varun Chakravarthy | 17 | 50% |
2019 | Dinesh Karthik | 5th | Andre Russell | 510 | Andre Russell | 11 | 42.85% |
2018 | Dinesh Karthik | 3rd | Dinesh Karthik | 498 | Kuldeep Yadav | 17 | 56.30% |
2017 | Gautam Gambhir | 3rd | Gautam Gambhir | 498 | Chris Woakes | 17 | 57.14% |
2016 | Gautam Gambhir | 4th | Gautam Gambhir | 501 | Andre Russell | 15 | 53.33% |
2015 | Gautam Gambhir | 5th | Robin Uthappa | 364 | Andre Russell | 14 | 53.84% |
2014 | Gautam Gambhir | Winners | Robin Uthappa | 660 | Sunil Narine | 21 | 68.75% |
2013 | Gautam Gambhir | 6th | Gautam Gambhir | 406 | Sunil Narine | 22 | 37.50% |
2012 | Gautam Gambhir | Winners | Gautam Gambhir | 590 | Sunil Narine | 24 | 70.58% |
2011 | Gautam Gambhir | 4th | Jacques Kallis | 424 | Yusuf Pathan | 13 | 53.33% |
2010 | Sourav Ganguly | 6th | Sourav Ganguly | 493 | Ashok Dinda | 9 | 50% |
2009 | Brendon Mccullum | 8th | Brad Hodge | 365 | Ishant Sharma | 11 | 23.07% |
2008 | Sourav Ganguly | 6th | Sourav Ganguly | 349 | Umar Gul | 12 | 46.16% |
Kolkata Knight Riders: Team Stats
Batting:
- Most Runs: Gautam Gambhir (3,035)
- Most 100s: B McCullum (1)
- Most 50s: Gautam Gambhir (30)
- Best Batting Average: Shubman Gill (33.53)
- Best Strike rate: Andre Russell (182.33)
- Most 6’s: Yusuf Pathan (85)
- Highest individual score: B McCullum (158*)
Bowling:
- Most wickets: Sunil Narine (127)
- Best bowling figure: Sunil Narine (5 for 19 against KXIP in 2012)
- Most 5-wicket hauls: Sunil Narine (1)
- Most 4-wicket Hauls: Sunil Narine (6)
Here is the List of Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2021 fixtures, venues and match timings
Date | Venue | Opponent | Time (IST) |
11/04 | Chennai | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
13/04 | Chennai | Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM |
18/04 | Chennai | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 3:30 PM |
21/04 | Mumbai | Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM |
24/04 | Mumbai | Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 PM |
26/04 | Ahmedabad | Punjab Kings | 7:30 PM |
29/04 | Ahmedabad | Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM |
03/05 | Ahmedabad | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 7:30 PM |
08/05 | Ahmedabad | Delhi Capitals | 3:30 PM |
10/05 | Bangalore | Mumbai Indians | 7:30 PM |
12/05 | Bangalore | Chennai Super Kings | 7:30 PM |
15/05 | Bangalore | Punjab Kings | 7:30 PM |
18/05 | Bangalore | Rajasthan Royals | 7:30 PM |
21/05 | Bangalore | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 3:30 PM |
Kolkata Knight Riders: 2021 Auction Buys and Trades
Complete list of all the released players:
Nikhil Naik, Siddhesh Lad, M Siddharth, Tom Banton, Chris Green, Harry Gurney.
Complete list of players bought by KKR in 2020 Auctions:
Shakib Al Hasan (3.2 crore), Harbhajan Singh (2 crore), Ben Cutting (75 lakh), Karun Nair (50 lakh), Pawan Negi (50 lakh), Sheldon Jackson (20 lakh), Venkatesh Iyer (20 lakh), Vaibhav Arora (20 lakh)
Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2021
Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Pat Cummins, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Tim Seifert, Shakib Al Hasan, Harbhajan Singh, Ben Cutting, Karun Nair, Pawan Negi, Sheldon Jackson, Venkatesh Iyer, Vaibhav Arora.
Also Read: Here is everything you need to know about IPL 2021
Nevin Clinton
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