IPL 2018, KKR vs DD: 5 Talking Points

Two teams searching for the right combination, two teams unaware of who their four overseas players are. Kolkata Knight Riders took on Delhi Daredevils at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Both teams have one of the three games they have played so far.

It’s an emotional homecoming for Gautam Gambhir as he has captained the KKR franchise for 6 years until 2017, winning two IPL titles for his side. He is someone who is loved by Kolkata and Bengalis in general for what he’s been able to achieve while he was playing for KKR.

KKR under Dinesh Karthik have lacked intent and look a little clueless as a unit. Karthik’s resource management skills can be questioned. The way he has handled Vinay Kumar in the first two games, the strange decision to play Sunil Narine at the number 4 slot and playing the youngster Shubman Gill at the number seven position.

The only way he can put all doubts to rest is if the team rallies around him and plays to its potential. They have the boisterous Kolkata crowds to propel them to deliver a strong performance. They are up against a team on a resurgence after losing the first two games of their season. Their team effort in chasing down a huge total against MI would have galvanised their team.

With Gautam Gambhir back to his former home ground as the opposition captain in this clash between KKR and DD, there was lots to look forward to. Did KKR use the home advantage and get back to form?

KKR certainly delivered big time, with a convincing and thumping performance where they trashed DD by 71 runs to put away all the criticism hurled at them to rest.

Here are 5 talking points from the KKR vs DD game played at the Eden Gardens

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#1 Gautam Gambhir’s mixed day as a captain

A lot was expected from Gautam Gambhir in tonight’s game against his former team. Everyone was sure he was aware of what captaincy moves to make here as he knows the conditions and the turf very well.

But unfortunately for DD’s fans, things didn’t go according to plan right from the start. Just as DD were getting into the game with a couple of quick wickets after Robin Uthappa’s quick cameo, Gambhir bowled out Shabaaz Nadeem within the 10th over of the innings when he is known to be good in the death overs.

Also, he gave Mohammad Shami the ball after the tenth over and although the speedster was good in his first two overs, he was terrible in his last few overs. It was strange that Gambhir allowed Shami to complete his quota of four overs.

One more instance of tonight not being Gambhir’s night as a captain was how he kept Rahul Tewatia till the end where the spinner got three wickets and conceded only one run in the 20th over of the innings. But the damage had been done before that as KKR had posted a huge score.

Probably the emotions of coming back to the Eden Gardens got to him as he was not his usual self as a captain on the day.

#2 Nitish Rana finally delivered to his potential

A superb addition to KKR

A promising youngster who impressed one and all with his wide variety of shots in last year’s IPL for MI, Nitish Rana came into this season of the IPL as someone who will be the pillar around which KKR’s batting would revolve on.

He started off with a couple of low scores but finally, he delivered to his potential. Nitish Rana on his day will remind you of Yuvraj Singh in full flight. His range of shots coupled with his awareness of the match situation makes him an asset to have on any team.

He displayed his array of shots today but when Andre Russell was blasting balls with ease out of the boundary on his way to a mind-blowing 41 of 12 balls, Nithish Rana played second fiddle.

This is indeed a good sign for KKR as their bowling line-up has got a settled look to it, and now finally their batting line up seems to be finding its feet with Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik and Nitish Rana complimenting the ever impressive Andre Russell.

#3 Andre Russell’s astonishing hitting demolishes DD

Demolishing the opposition

There is never a dull moment when the likes of Chris Gayle or Andre Russell walk onto the crease. Andre Russell is one of the hardest and cleanest hitters of the cricket ball. He didn’t disappoint the huge crowd that came out to see their favourite side play.

He marauded the DD bowlers. Just as they were getting into the game with a couple of quick wickets, Russell snatched the momentum away. Andre Russell smashed 41 of 12 balls which included 6 sixes hit across Eden Gardens.

He along with the talented Nitish Rana set the stage for what proved to be a little too much for DD’s batsmen to achieve or surpass.

#4 KKR’s bowlers step up after the disappointment against CSK

Bowlers find their momentum

KKR’s captain Dinesh Karthik has been criticised for his usage of bowlers and his handling of bowlers such as Vinay Kumar. This was evident when despite scoring a total in excess of 200 runs against CSK it wasn’t enough.

Right from the word go, it was pleasing to see the attacking instinct of the Knight Riders in this game when they got on Piyush Chawla to bowl the first over and he dismissed the inform Jason Roy.

From there every bowling move made by DK proved to be successful as Shivam Mahi, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Tom Curran and Kuldeep Yadav were all amongst the wickets.

Whenever DD were building a partnership that threatened, someone from the bowling line up stood up and broke the partnership. They were helped by some soft dismissals which made things easier. Rishabh Pant, Glen Maxwell, Gautam Gambhir and Shreyas Iyer gave away their wickets too easily.

It’s good to see that KKR have realised where they were lacking in and have worked on that and provided a complete performance which would have surely pleased the huge crowds who came in to witness this game.

#5 DD’s batsmen never capitalized on their starts

DD

need

to come back strong

Chasing a total of over 200 was never going to be easy for DD in this pitch at the Eden Gardens. It required one batsman to go on to get a big score and the others to support them.

But unfortunately for DD they need to get back to the drawing board as for right from the first over of the chase, things went from bad to worse. Jason Roy who impressed against MI with a match-winning 91 fell early.

Post that no one ever got off to starts and the one who did couldn’t convert their momentum into something bigger. Always when you are chasing huge totals you need one batsman who scores big.

Lack of partnerships, no one going on to get a big score and the meek manner in which the batsmen gave their wickets away will certainly not please the team management of the DD, who need a lot of soul searching to do in order to come back to form in this tournament.