IPL 2018: Rating the teams after their opening games

Kolkata Knight Riders: 7/10

KKR ran away with a strong home victory

Karthik started off his captaincy career with the Knight Riders in a strong and convincing manner. He tamed the RCB attack with his dynamism as a leader and his dependability as a batsman. He sustained the ploy of sending Narine to open the innings and it paid dividends yet again against the revamped bowling unit of the visitors.

Their bowling looked scratchy in places but their batting clicked well in the second innings of the game. If they wish to go deep into this tournament, they will have to focus on gelling together as a team so as to fill the voids created by the departure of Gambhir and the injury to Mitchell Starc.

For now, their campaign has begun on a positive and promising note.