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Kolkata Knight Riders

March 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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  IPL Team analysis: Kolkata Knight Riders:  Kolkata Knight Riders often abbreviated as KKR is the franchise representing Kolkata in the Indian Premier League, a Twenty20 cricket tournament. The team is led by Sourav Ganguly, and coached by Dav Whatmore. Sourav Ganguly is the team's Icon Player.  The official theme of the team is Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re (Bengali for We will do it, Fight for it, Win it) and the official colors are purple and gold. As per the study done by leading brand valuation companies, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are ranked the most valuable franchise brand at US$42.1million. Celebrity co-owner Shah Rukh Khan’s hard-selling of the KKR brand has counteracted the team’s poor on-field performance  Kolkata Knight Riders was bought by Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment in partnership with Juhi Chawla Mehta and her Husband Jay Mehta. Taking over Red Chillies Entertainment is the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders too.  The team also includes the allrounder Chris Gayle, David Hussey, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, wicket keeper batsman Brendon McCullum, Wriddhiman Saha. The main bowlers are Shane Bond, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Ajit Agarkar and Murali Karthik. Australian batsman Brad Hodge and Sri Lankan bowler Ajantha Mendis were bought outside IPL Auction on 2008. On IPL Auction 2009 Team bought Bangladeshi All-Rounder Mashrafe Mortaza. Team also includes Charl Langeveldt who was signed outside of Auction. Due to Pakistani players unavailability in 2009 KKR had to suspend contract of key performer from the 2008 season Umar Gul.  Shane Bond is the latest KKR acquisition after releasing Ricky Ponting, Morne van Wyk, Umar Gul, Salman Butt, Mohammed Hafeez, Shoaib Akhtar, Moises Henriques for IPL III. Their international players for the 2010 season are - Shane Bond, Mashrafe Mortaza, Brendon McCullum, Charl Langeveldt, Ajantha Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Owais Shah & Chris Gayle.  The logo of the team consists of a blazing golden Viking helmet against a black background with the name of the team Kolkata Knight Riders … [Read more...]

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Can they recover from Mumbai cyclone?

May 18, 2008 by Leave a Comment

  Chennai Superkings will clash with Kolkata Knight Riders after both teams suffered humiliating defeats against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede. Mumbai cruelly exposed weak links in both teams in those two matches. Both teams are not looking as tournament winners and they are just depending on 2 to 3 players. For Kolkata, it is Sourav Ganguly and David Hussey in batting and Shoaib Akhtar in bowling while it is Dhoni, Badrinath and Morkel are for Mumbai. Home ground advantage is a big plus point for Kolkata. To raise their semi-final chances hopes, they should win this game.  Match timing: 4 PM to 7 PM live from Eden Gardens on Set Max channel.  Kolkata Knight Riders:  1. Shoaib Akhtar is in superb form and even top players are struggling against him. If Akash Chopra took the Jayasuriya catch in the Mumbai match, He might have repeated his sensational performance as he did against Delhi. Weak Chennai top order will definitely struggle against Akhtar and Ishant Sharma.  2. Sourav Ganguly returned to form and he is effectively playing all-rounder role.  3. David Hussey is one man army for Kolkata in batting. If he falters, Kolkata stumbles.  4. At Eden Gardens, Kolkata Knight Riders always play well with the support of huge fans.  Chennai Superkings:  1. Dhoni and Badrinath are carrying weak Chennai batting on their shoulders.   2. Vidyut and Raina are playing inconsistently.   3. Albie Morkel is a dangerous all-rounder who is sorely missed in Kolkata lineup.   4. Balaji is a high quality bowler and Dhoni should use him more.   5. Gony is a good bowler but not a dangerous one. Muralidharan failed to reach expectations.  IPL Statistics and Records:  1. Dhoni is the leading scorer for Chennai and is in superb form in the recent matches.  Verdict: Both teams are banking on individual performances and result will depend on their performances. Both teams are even on cricket abilities but mental strength will decide the match winner. Both teams are struggling … [Read more...]

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Sourav Ganguly decimated Hyderabad IPL

May 11, 2008 by Leave a Comment

 Sourav Ganguly’s all-round performance enabled Kolkata Knight Riders to defeat patchy Hyderabad Deccan challengers at Uppal stadium in Hyderabad. Hyderabad lost all the home matches while Kolkata raised semi-final hopes with two consecutive wins. Venugopala Rao performance is the sole bright spot for Hyderabad IPL. They are sloppy in fielding and bowling. Sourav Ganguly was supported well by ever reliable David Hussey but Venugopal Rao found no support from other end. Ganguly surprised everyone by opting to bat after winning the toss. But he was right at the end partially due to Hyderabad’s poor bowling and fielding.       IPL Cricket score: Kolkata Knight Riders: 204/4 in 20 overs. Hyderabad Deccan Chargers: 181/7 in 20 overs. Match result: Kolkata won by 23 runs. Man of the match: Sourav Ganguly who scored 91 runs in just 57 balls with 11 fours and 5 sixers. This is one of the best innings in the recent IPL matches. He missed well deserved century. Ganguly also took two vital wickets by giving just 24 runs in his 4 overs. Venugopala Rao: Exceptional all-round performance. Bowling: 4 overs; 24 runs.  Batting: 71 runs in 42 balls – four 4’s and six 6’s. Verdict: Gregg Chappell is a brilliant talent spotter. He believed in Dhoni leadership and abilities of Suresh Raina and Venugopal Rao. He criticised “seniors” politics. Now he is in Rajasthan management team. Highlights of the match: Kolkata innings: 1. Sourav Ganguly played his best innings in the recent days. Except Vijay Kumar and Venugopala Rao, he destroyed all the bowlers with 4’s and 6’s. 2. I can’t understand why Kolkata picked Akash Chopra. Be innovative man. Send a batsman like Saha to utilise power play. 3. David Hussey is one of the top 3 batsmen in IPL 2008. The way he plays according to the situation and the way be built his innings is a lesson for every aspiring cricketer. He scored 57 runs in just 29 balls.  4. Vaas and RP Singh bowled without line and length. David Hussey and Sourav Ganguly … [Read more...]

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Analysis of IPL captains

April 29, 2008 by Leave a Comment

 Captains played a very crucial role in changing the fortunes of their IPL teams. Captains like Shane Warne and Dhoni inspired their teams with their leadership qualities while Dravid and Laxman buckled under pressure with poor batting and unimaginative captaincy. Unlike Dravid, Laxman at least sacrificed money and iconic status. Analysis of Indian Premier League captains: 1. Shane Warne: He is the coach, captain, magician, God, motivator and saviour for underdogs Jaipur. He inspired young Jaipur team to sensational victories. 2. MS Dhoni: Ice Man Dhoni showed his immense potential against Bangalore with his hard hitting and cool captaincy. Indian cricket is in the safe hands of this “Ice Man”. We will know his real potential in the coming matches where Chennai will miss the services of Mathew Hayden, Michael Hussey and Jacob Oram. Can he inspire his team like Warne? 3. Virender Sehwag: One superb inning against Hyderabad and nothing else. 4. Yuvraj Singh: He is playing consistently well in all the Mohali IPL matches. But team lost some matches due to bad selection and unsettled batting order. Indian vice-captain need to prove his captaincy skills. 5. Sourav Ganguly: He is an inspirational leader but poor batsman. Kolkata fans love the passionate combination of Sourav-Shahrukh but Ganguly needs to score runs. 6. Rahul Dravid: Why is he playing in this tournament? What can he do in Twenty20 games? He should sit at home and watch matches. Poor leader but good man. 7. VVS Laxman: You should pick your best players to win tight Twenty20 games. You can’t bat; you can’t see potential in young men; you can’t take bold innovate decisions; you can’t field; you can’t say no “Recommendation candidates”. Critics at last found answers for eternal questions like why he wasn’t picked by one day selectors. 8. Sachin/Harbhajan/Pollock: Sachin hides injuries for money/advertisements. Harbhajan slaps opposition players. Pollock is waging lone battle. How can you expect match winning performances from Mumbai IPL team? IPL Awards: Best captain: Shane … [Read more...]

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