THE SURE-FIRE GLADIATORS

EOIN MORGAN

After taking over the reins from Dinesh Karthik midway through last term, Morgan only had limited time to steer the KKR ship to the play-offs. A positive start gave way to an indifferent end under captain Morgan in 2020, but with the England international leading the charge from the beginning in 2021, things should be different. Morgan’s stupendous limited overs success for England has demonstrated his calibre to lead a team with egos bigger than his own, and a similar brand of composed stewardship will be what KKR will be hoping from Morgan. With the bat, there is no better time for the southpaw to step up to the plate and replicate his international exploits in the IPL arena, unleashing the furious six-hitting prowess that is yet to surface in all its explosiveness in the purple and gold.

ANDRE RUSSELL

After enjoying an astonishing 2019 season individually, Russell fell off the pace in the UAE last time around. Nagging doubts over his fitness have diminished his stock somewhat over the last 18 months, but a strong run of form heading into the IPL should be a cause for optimism for KKR fans. While he may not remain as useful with the ball as he used to be when he first came through the ranks at the Eden Gardens, Russell is still the second-best finisher in the IPL (behind AB de Villiers) and a pure athlete on the field. All that is required for Russell to get back to his devastating best is a strong start to the campaign, following which momentum alone could be enough for him to fire on all cylinders.

PAT CUMMINS

No longer the costliest player in the IPL, Cummins can afford to be more of a free spirit in 2021. There is little doubt that the flat decks of the UAE did not lend enough support to Cummins to make inroads in the powerplay, his speciality in the shortest version of the game. But Indian pitches, especially under lights, should offer more purchase for the Australian pacer who has maintained an incredible form for his country over the past 12 months. Despite being arguably the world’s leading fast bowler across all formats, Cummins has a big heart that is not sensitive to the odd bad day in the office. This tenacity should hold him in good stead as he sets out to redeem himself for KKR, not only with the new ball but also with some vital pinch-hitting with bat in hand.

THE COMEBACK KNIGHTS

SHAKIB AL HASAN

The prodigal son of the KKR family has finally come back home. After a reasonably impressive spell with the Sunrisers and year of ignominy due to an ICC ban imposed on him for potential complicity in corruption, Shakib will resume playing for the team with whom he emerged triumphant in 2012 and 2014. A case can be made that Shakib’s core skills have inverted since he last played for KKR, with the Bangladeshi veteran now more of a batting all-rounder than a bowling one. Either way, Shakib’s value to the KKR line-up is no less than what it had been some seven years ago, when he was integral to sealing the championship under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir. In the time since he last played for Kolkata, Shakib has become a T20 globetrotter, assembling experience in several other franchises, which could be worth its weight in gold come the business end of IPL 2021.

HARBHAJAN SINGH

After missing out on the IPL last year, the Turbantor is back in action in the tournament where he seems to defy age with every passing season. It is true that the 40-year-old is not technically a returning Knight, having previously played for MI and CSK in his IPL career. But the Harbhajan story is incomplete without his love affair with the city of Calcutta, which began all the way back in 2001, when the off-spinner wreaked havoc with a legendary Australian batting line-up to secure one of the most memorable wins in cricket history. With his swashbuckling style, his knack for rising to the occasion, and above all, his belief in proving his critics wrong, Harbhajan has always embodied the spirit of the City of Joy. Now, at long last, he gets to play for them, too.

THE YOUNG BRIGADE

SHUBMAN GILL

With over 400 runs in IPL 2020, Gill was KKR’s top-scorer, making the transition from prodigy to mainstay. The 21-year-old followed that up with an even more eye-popping string of displays for the Indian national team where he is now gaining a foothold as well. A calm head on young shoulders, the next big thing, the future who is also the present, are all overused cliches in cricket, and yet, every single description fits Gill to perfection. Opening the innings for KKR, Gill has shown that he can play both sheet anchor as well as aggressor-in-chief, all with textbook cricketing shots that are stamped with elegance and conviction. If KKR are to reach the play-offs this season, Gill will have to deliver the goods once more, and judging by his attitude and approach, only the brave-hearted would bet against him.

KARUN NAIR

There was a time when Nair, the only Indian not named Virender Sehwag to score a triple century in Test cricket, was hailed as the solution to India’s middle order muddle. After a fairy tale debut series in 2016, Nair has endured one setback after another, both with India as well as his previous franchise at Punjab. KKR, therefore, represent a new lease of life for the 29-year-old, who still has the potential to be one of the finest strokemakers in all of the IPL. Two things must work out for Nair for him to be a hit with KKR. First, he needs to know the exact role he plays in the team instead of being the floater that he became with the erstwhile Kings XI. Second, he needs to check himself from trying too hard to impress, a trait that has surfaced time and again over the last few seasons.

PRASIDH KRISHNA

At 25, Krishna’s days as a “youngster” may be numbered, but it is the infectious energy that he brings to the table that makes him a deserving member of the youth brigade of KKR. Having bowled his heart out in the last few seasons of the IPL, Krishna earned a deserved call-up for Team India, an opportunity he grabbed with both hands recently, posting the best One Day International figures for an Indian bowler on debut. Krishna’s IPL numbers, however, do not hide the fact that he tends to go for a fair amount of runs, something Morgan will be wary of while using Krishna, especially at the death. Having said that, with some international experience under his belt and the realisation that he has a golden chance to emerge as KKR’s leading Indian seamer, this could be the breakthrough season that Krishna has been dreaming of since bursting on to the scene in 2018.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Fact-File

Best finish: Champions (2012, 2014)

Last five years:

2020: Fifth

2019: Fifth

2018: Third

2017: Third

2016: Fourth

Overall IPL Record:

Played/ Won/ Lost/ No Result: 196/ 99/ 93/ 4

Head coach: Brendon McCullum

Average age of the squad: 29 years

Pictures: Sourced by the correspondent