IPL 2018: 5 reasons why KKR might not win the title

We are just weeks away from the start of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. With two titles, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is one of the most successful franchises in IPL cricket. They were one of the strongest teams in the competition until now.

However, they missed out on some key players in the auction and paid a little too much for the players they bought. Though they have some big T20 names like Chris Lynn, Kuldeep Yadav, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Mitchell Starc in the squad, but there are quite a few areas where they lack depth and replacements.

Without much ado, let’s take a look at the reasons why Kolkata Knight Riders might not win the IPL 2018 title.

#5 Inexperienced captain

Big test for Dinesh Karthik awaits in IPL 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders are one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League(IPL), winning the title on two occasions. Gautam Gambhir led them from the front and has been one of the most prolific batsmen in the history of IPL cricket.

Gambhir was let go by the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise and the 32-year-old India wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik, who was bought for Rs 7.4 crore, will lead the side in his absence.

Though Karthik has captained Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy and in other domestic tournaments, his lack of international captaincy experience will hurt KKR badly. Also, he lacks support from the other players in the squad in terms of captaincy experience.

#4 Inexperienced batting lineup

Robin Uthappa will have to do the bulk of the scoring for KKR in IPL 2018

Kolkata Knight Riders lost many experienced batsmen in the auction, including the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Manish Pandey, and Yusuf Pathan.

Also, they failed to buy an experienced Indian batsman in the auction. With Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa, and Chris Lynn, only 3 of their batsmen in the squad have played international cricket.

Though they brought Nitish Rana, Ishank Jaggi, Rinku Singh and Apoorv Wankhede to fill the batsmen slots in the squad, they cannot be an exact replacement as they lack experience and haven’t played international or much IPL cricket before, except for Nitish Rana. This will definitely hurt KKR in IPL 2018.

#3 Weak bench strength

Can he repeat the IPL 2017 form?

In a tournament where teams play 14 league games in a span of six weeks, the depth of the squad will play a key factor in the success of the team.

When Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, and Sunrisers Hyderabad go into the tournament with a squad of 25 players, Kolkata Knight Riders go into the IPL 2018 with only 19 players in the squad. They have the lightest squad of all IPL team this season.

Of the 19 players in their squad, only 11 has the experience of playing at the international level and injuries to a couple of their good players will hurt them badly as they do not have a proper replacement in the squad. They spent a lot of money on Chris Lynn, Mitchell Starc, and Andre Russell, and failed to add adequate strength to their squad.

#2 Injury prone Chris Lynn and Mitchell Starc

A lot of hope rests on the shoulders of the Aussie batsman Chris Lynn

Two of the most destructive players in the shorter format of the game, one with the bat and the other with the ball, Chris Lynn and Mitchell Starc are match winners in their own style.

However, it comes at a cost. Though they possess huge talent, their fitness is an area of concern throughout their career. Lynn was phenomenal for KKR in the first half of IPL 2017 but did not play in the second half of the tournament because of injuries.

Mitchell Starc is no different. He is the most lethal bowler right now in the shorter formats of the game. He did brilliantly for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2016 but did not play in IPL 2017 because of injuries. KKR took a big risk by investing a lot of money on these two and they don't have a replacement for them in the squad as well.

#1 Andre Russell is coming back after a doping ban

Can Andre Russell get back to his belligerent best?

Arguably the best all-rounder in T20 cricket, Andre Russell took the cricketing world by storm when he played around the world for various T20 franchises. However, it all came to an end when the West Indies all-rounder was banned for one year from cricket for a doping violation. His ban ended on January 30, 2018, and was retained by Kolkata Knight Riders for a huge money to play in IPL 2018.

He will be playing at the highest level after almost 18 months and how well he can play depends on a lot of factors. He lacks match sharpness at the moment and it will be hard for him to reprise the form that made him one of the best T20 players in the world. Cameron Delport is a decent backup option but might not be good enough to win the title for KKR.