IPL 2018: 4 things KKR need to do to end their struggles

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) surprised everybody when they won their opening fixture against a power-packed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) because everybody believed that they didn’t have the best of the IPL auctions earlier this year. That win over RCB raised expectations from the team. Two loses against Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad derailed their campaign but they recovered quickly with two back to back wins against Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals. Just when they looked to gather steam for a successful run they were jolted some serious blows by Gayle-storm and Rahul-attack in their fixture against Kings XI Punjab, which was followed by a murderous assault by Shreyas Iyer that led to their capitulation against Delhi.

So, after beginning their campaign on a promising note they suddenly find themselves struggling with four losses from seven games, two of which have come in their last two fixtures. Here, we take a look at four things that they need to do to turn around their wobbling campaign.

#1 Get Shubhman Gill in the top order

Shubhman Gill belongs to the top order and not in the middle order where KKR have used him

KKR have not used the promising talent of Shubhman Gill properly. He is too good a player to be playing at no.7. KKR poached him in the IPL auctions on the back of some stunning performances in the U-19 World Cup where he finished second on the batting charts with his tally of 372 runs from six games. He partnered Prithvi Shaw and Manjot Kalra to form the fearsome triumvirate at the top of the order, which helped Indian clinch the title.

KKR have used him in the lower middle-order asking him to bat at no.6 and 7, which are far from his comfort zone. He has so far scored 60 runs from five games with a high score of 37. Clearly, the lower middle-order is not the place for him. He likes to play at the top and thrives in his preferred no.3 spot, which is evident by his success at the U-19 World Cup. It’s high time that the KKR setup promotes him up the order as Sunil Narine is struggling to take the bowling apart. Robin Uthappa should get to open the innings with Chris Lynn while Gill can come in at no.3.

#2 Nitish Rana needs to up his game

Nitish Rana urgently needs to find his consistency

Nitish Rana takes the no.4 spot for the Knight Riders and it’s a very crucial batting slot which acts as the pivot for the whole batting line-up. The importance of his runs for the team can be gauged by the fact that on the four occasions when he failed to make an impact with the bat, KKR have lost all of them. He has thrived in patches so far in the tournament and has accumulated 173 runs from seven games at a below-par average of 28.8.

He is a batsman of much higher calibre than what the above-mentioned facts suggest. He just needs to pick up his consistency and should avoid throwing away his wicket after getting his eyes in. Every time he goes in for a long haul in the field, KKR come out as the celebrating team.

#3 Russell needs to up his bowling game

Russell has been off color in his bowling so far

Andre Russell is the most vital cog in the KKR setup. He bats mercilessly, bowls his heart out and is electric in the field. He has been brilliant so far with the bat which reflects in the batting charts for KKR where he occupies the second spot with his tally of 207 runs from seven games. His hitting has been murderous and strikes fear in the minds of opposition bowlers.

The worrying aspect of his performance in the tournament has been his bowling which currently is lacking penetration. He has bowled just a little more than fifteen overs in the tournament and has picked up only two wickets at a horrible average of 84. If KKR aspire to be in the final four after the league stage, Russell needs to step up in the bowling front because he is a wicket-taking option upfront for the KKR camp.

#4 Find a stable third seam bowling option

Tom Curran needs to get a longer run in the starting XI for KKR

KKR’s strategy of having a rotating third seam bowling option in Tom Curran and Mitchell Johnson has not provided rich rewards for the team. They have fielded Curran in four games while Johnson made the cut in the remaining three. Johnson, especially, has been ineffective with his worrisome tally of two wickets, which have come at an extravagant average of 51.

Curran has the best average of 17 among the proper bowling options that the KKR set up has. He has also picked up five wickets from his four appearances in the tournament. KKR will do good to themselves by giving him a long and stable run in the starting XI while Johnson ponders over the reasons for his failure in the comforts of the backend.