Having failed to
qualify for the playoffs in a disappointing 2019 campaign, Kolkata Knight
Riders (KKR) made big waves in the Indian Premier League (IPL) player auction last
December, seeking a change of fortunes and a first title since 2014.
The Dinesh Karthik-led
outfit finished fifth in a season that was characterised by an over-reliance on
star man Andre Russel. This was clearly evident in the fact that Russel played
match-winning knocks in three of their first four victories. Those four
victories came in the first five matches of the league round, with KKR
recording just two wins in the nine remaining matches.
Therefore, the team’s
management decided to make wholesale changes to an unsettled and inconsistent
squad ahead of this year’s edition. The Knights broke the bank for highly
sought-after international stars like Eoin Morgan and Pat Cummins, while also
paving the way for young Indian talents like Shubhman Gill and Nitish Rana to
take centerstage.
With a much more
balanced unit for IPL 2020, here are five players that will likely make the
difference for KKR.
1.
Pat Cummins
The Aussie pacer has had
a meteoric rise in recent years, becoming the highest-rated bowler in Test
cricket. The 27-year-old was the top wicket taker in last year’s Ashes series
and was one of the most sought-after overseas players in the IPL player auction
last December.
KKR had to shell out a
whopping Rs 15.5 crore to secure Cummins’ services, making him the most
expensive overseas player in IPL history.
The two-time IPL winners were in
desperate need of a world-class frontline pacer, with all-rounder Andre Russel
finishing as their top-wicket taker last season with a just 11 scalps.
Cummins is yet to
prove his caliber in the IPL, having only played 16 matches in three previous
editions combined, picking up 17 wickets in the process. Regardless, his
addition will add much needed spark to a toothless bowling unit and might prove
to be pivotal for a potential title challenge by the Knight Riders.
2.
Eoin Morgan
The Irish-born Englishman
has been at the forefront of England cricket’s limited overs revolution,
sealing his place among all-time greats by leading England to their maiden ODI
World Cup triumph last summer.
Morgan has developed
into one of the most innovative and audacious stroke players in recent years, reflected
in his impressive strike rate of 137.49 in T20 Internationals.
Morgan, who is
England’s all-time highest run scorer in ODIs, has also been in excellent form
off late, scoring an 84-ball 106 in the final ODI against Ireland on August 4. He also impressed in the 3-match T20I series against Pakistan, and in the ODI series against Australia.
His acquisition adds more firepower to an already strong middle-order, boasting
the likes of skipper Karthik and Russel.
The Irishman, who was
bought by KKR for Rs 5.5 crore, might also help out skipper Karthik with his
captaincy and tactical nous, an area where the wicketkeeper-batsman seemed
short on ideas at times last season.
3.
Shubhman Gill
One of the most
exciting young talents around, the Knight Riders have made Punjab-born Shubhman
Gill their frontline top order batsman for IPL 2020.
Having had a decent
debut campaign in 2018, Gill came into prominence last season when he was
promoted up the order to replace Sunil Narine halfway through the season.
The 20-year-old
amassed 296 runs at a strike rate of 124.36, including a commanding 45-ball 76
against Mumbai Indians. Gill is also eyeing up a spot in Team India’s T20 squad
and will look to impress the national selectors with an impressive IPL 2020
campaign.
4.
Nitish Rana
Another young Indian
batsman the Knight Riders have put their faith on, Rana had his best IPL season
so far in 2019, scoring 344 runs at a strike rate of 146.38.
Although he faded away
towards the second half of the season, as two of his three 50+ scores came in the
first three matches, the presence of experienced middle order batsmen will
allow him to strut his stuff at the top of the order with Gill. His contributions
will go a long way towards securing a third IPL title for KKR.
5.
Tom Banton
Tom Banton had
garnered enough attention from a string of impressive performances in the T20
Blast, England’s domestic T20 tournament, to warrant an international debut
during England’s tour to New Zealand in November 2019.
The 21-year-old scored
a handy 31 runs in 20 deliveries to set up England’s mammoth 241 total in the
third T20 against the Kiwis. He also scored his maiden half century in the
recent ODI series against Ireland with an impressive 51-ball 58.
He really came into his own in the three-match T20I series against Pakistan last month, unleashing his breath-taking stroke play in the first encounter, scoring 71 runs. He amassed 137 runs over the course of the series.
KKR may have landed
themselves the steal of the year as they locked in on Banton at his base price
of Rs 1 crore. The promising right-handed batsman can bat anywhere at the top
of the order and might be the final piece of the puzzle KKR need to mount a
challenge for the IPL trophy.
