IPL 2016: Rating the captains of the 8 IPL teams

4. Gautam Gambhir: Kolkata Knight Riders – 7/10

Gautam Gambhir has been one of the most consistent batsmen for the Kolkata Knight Riders

The Kolkata Knight Riders have, over the past 4 years, emerged out as one of the most consistent sides in the IPL, having won the tournament twice in the last 5 years and reaching the playoffs on several occasions. One of the lynchpins in their lineup – which also happens to one of the most settled line-ups amongst all teams - their captain Gautam Gambhir, has been instrumental in the team's success ever since his association with the side back in 2012.

Gambhir has garnered at least 300 runs in each of the past five seasons and accumulated 501 runs from 15 games at an average of 38.53 and a strike rate of 121.89 this season as well. Without a doubt, he has been one of the most consistent performers with the bat for the franchise and has led the team from the front, guiding them to title victories twice since taking over the reigns. This season, however, KKR came tantalisingly close to the probability of adding another feather to their cap but missed out eventually.

The heavy reliance on the spinners to win them matches was something that came back to haunt the Knight Riders this season, as, despite some decent performances that were put up by Piyush Chawla and Sunil Narine, the team failed to contain the opposition with the ball on several occasions. The likes of Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav, Shakib-Al-Hasan and Brad Hogg couldn’t quite do the job for them with the ball, and Gambhir kept on rotating them throughout the tournament, thereby preventing them from enjoying an extended run.

It was only with the ball that the Knight Riders faltered, as their top order and the middle order continued to churn out the runs in the tournament only for their bowlers to give the advantage away.