OPINION
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Possible Starting XI
What works for KKR?
• The spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy locks eight overs of mystery spin. Not many teams have such sort after spin attack in their first-choice XI. The tournament’s progression will cause wear and tear on the four IPL venues that will bring them in play further.
• They have a top-four of Indian batters, each of whom has played for India. In the past, Delhi Capitals have produced rich results with such a setup. Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana are all excellent hitters of spin bowling.
• Andre Russell is one of the biggest match-winners in modern-day T20 cricket. Even in his most average batting seasons, he will win you at least one game with the ball as he did in the previous season. If his batting clicks, he becomes one of the most threatening all-rounders. Kolkata will hope he does. After a couple of lean seasons with the bat, Russell the batsman is due another steller season with the bat.
• With the all-round credentials of Venkatesh Iyer, Russell and Narine, Kolkata can have seven to eight bowling options in their strongest first-choice XI. They can also lengthen their batting till number nine.
Where KKR might struggle?
• It has been a few seasons since Umesh Yadav ceased to be a certain starter in an IPL team. Over the last two seasons, he has played only two games while being benched in others. The current Kolkata setup demands Umesh to play every game as a spearhead Indian pacer. Since 2018, he averages 31.1 runs per wicket at an economy of 8.9.
In a similar vein, Ajinkya Rahane emerges as their best choice to accompany Venkatesh Iyer at the top. He has played only 11 matches in the last two seasons where he averaged only 13.4 at a strike-rate of 105.2. Rahane has lost his place in the international setup across all formats.
These two spots are the biggest voids in the Kolkata line-up. However, they can sort one of these by opening with Narine. But the confidence team management is showing in Rahane reckons he will be their second opener.
• Kolkata retained three match-winners in Russell, Narine and Chakravarthy. Although all of them have red-flags attached to them. Russell and Chakravarthy have fitness issues with dodgy knees. Constant action suspicions have subverted Narine’s impact. Hence, Kolkata are playing a big punt over their star players to sustain themselves against their recurring shortcomings.
• The death overs’ bowling is a big threat to Kolkata’s campaign. Pat Cummins hasn’t backed his reputation as an elite pacer during the death overs. Umesh is the most expensive IPL bowler at the death since 2018 at 13.7 runs per over (minimum 10 overs). Shivam Mavi is yet to taste consistent success at the death.
That leaves them with Andre Russell. While it increases the workload on his dodgy knees, he has also blown hot and cold in that phase. Thus, despite many options, Kolkata don’t seem to have a concrete plan to finish their bowling innings on a good note.
• Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana, despite being great hitters of spin bowling, can be targetted with the chin-music at high pace. In T20s since 2020, Iyer has struck back of a length and short stuff from pacers at 128.9 while Rana has done the same at130.2. Both numbers reduced considerably when the speed has been over 140 (100 and 81.8 respectively). Hence, instead of bowling spin, teams will be bowling a lot of high-pace against Kolkata during the middle-overs.
• The Aussie duo of Pat Cummins and Aaron Finch won't be available for selection until April 6.
