IPL 2020: SWOT Analysis of Kolkata Knight Riders

KKR in IPL 2020: Weaknesses

Nitish Rana will be KKR's key middle order batsman in IPL 2020

#1 KKR's Indian batting contingent looks thin

Despite their immense quality in overseas players, KKR still have to fill the remaining spots with Indian players, and they are found wanting in the batting department.

Apart from captain Dinesh Karthik, who will have to play the role of the finisher, only Shubman Gill and Nitish Rana have some degree of IPL experience. The releases of Chris Lynn and Robin Uthappa have left their batting lineup devoid of experience and aggression, and it remains to be seen if Rana and Gill can take up the responsibility on their young shoulders.

Rinku Singh, Siddhesh Lad, Rahul Tripathi and Nikhil Naik are the only other options, and most of them haven't had sufficient IPL experience. With Rana uncapped and Gill having not much international experience, Karthik might have to do most of the work.

#2 KKR might not have the necessary depth in the spin department

KKR have always been a team that has relied on quality spinners, often fielding a three-pronged spin attack consisting of Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav at the Eden Gardens.

Chawla is now part of the Chennai Super Kings, and KKR chose to replace him with Tamil Nadu mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who has bowled only three overs in the IPL so far. Chris Green is another option, but he might not make the playing XI in the presence of other quality options.

M Siddharth is the only other Indian tweaker at KKR's disposal, and he is uncapped at the IPL level. Even Kuldeep, who is expected to be one of the leaders of the spin attack, picked up only 4 wickets in 9 IPL games last season, at an economy rate of 8.66.

KKR might not be able to play to their strengths in IPL 2020, especially with the conditions expected to favour the spinners in the UAE.

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