IPL 2020: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Squad Rating

With the highest rating in the all-rounders category, let’s look at the overall squad rating of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for IPL 2020.

Since the departure of Gautam Gambhir in 2018, Kolkata Knight Riders have had a decent run in IPL finishing fourth and fifth in subsequent seasons. While Gautam Gambhir led KKR had an experienced core in place, Dinesh Karthik led KKR has mostly been full of inexperienced but talented players.

IPL 2020 is no different for KKR with the same bunch of talented players along with some more exciting names in the form of Eoin Morgan, Pat Cummins, Tom Banton, Rahul Tripathi bought at the IPL 2020 Auction.  

So, have Kolkata Knight Riders got a squad that can excel in all the conditions and on all pitches? Let’s look at our amazing article where we find the overall squad rating of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for IPL 2020 considering all the categories.

Please note:

• The squad rating for IPL 2020 is calculated for five primary categories viz., Openers, Middle-order, All-rounders, Spinners, and Pacers.
• The player roles are bracketed as Main players, Good backups, and other backups, and all are being rated on a scale of 10. However, for overall rating calculation, the weighted average is taken with higher weightage given to the main players. 
• The players are relatively rated for their primary category basis their last two IPL’s performance, and/or their current International/Domestic form.
• While a player can play an additional role as ”Backup’, all categories should have a unique set of main players. 

Before we begin, let’s look at the benchmark players in our 5 primary categories against which every other player is relatively rated. 

• Opener: David Warner
• Middle-order: Virat Kohli
• All-rounder(s): Hardik Pandya and Andre Russell
• Spinner: Rashid Khan
• Pacer: Jasprit Bumrah

Alright then, without wasting any time, let’s look at the squad rating for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for IPL 2020.

Openers – 7.87

Two Main Openers: Shubhman Gill and Sunil Narine

Good Backup Opener: Tom Banton

Other Backup Opener(s): Rahul Tripathi and Siddhesh Lad

The departure of Chris Lynn and Robin Uthappa has made Shubman Gill and Sunil Narine as team’s best available openers based on their success and experience. The duo is most-likely to open for KKR in IPL 2020. 

Shubman Gill has been slowly making a name for himself as one of the most promising talents in the country with stunning performances. Sunil Narine, on the other hand, has had tremendous success as an opener for KKR, but a shuffling batting-order in IPL 2019 saw his performance take a dip, and to be honest, team management is to be blamed for it.

The attacking wicket-keeper batsman, Tom Banton would act as the main backup, and he is expected to make his IPL debut this year after having had superb success in the other T20 leagues. Meanwhile, Rahul Tripathi would act as a decent backup. He would be more than happy to open for KKR, unlike RR, where he wasn’t utilized properly, and mostly batted in the lower-order. 

In metrics, Shubhman Gill and Sunil Narine get a rating of 8 each, while Tom Banton gets a rating of 7.75, and Rahul Tripathi gets a rating of 7.5. 

Overall, KKR get a cumulative average rating of 7.87 in the openers category.

Middle-order – 8.35

Three Main Middle-order Players: Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik, and Eoin Morgan. 

Two Good Backup Middle-order Players: Nitish Rana and Chris Green

Other Backup Middle-order Player(s): Shubhman Gill, Rinku Singh, and Nikhil Naik

The arrival of Eoin Morgan gives the much-needed boost to KKR’s slightly feeble middle-order. The trio of Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik, and Andre Russell would now form the core of KKR’s dynamic middle-order.

Andre Rusell had a fantastic IPL 2019 where he took the world by storm with his atrocious batting, but Dinesh Karthik had a below-par IPL 2019. Both would be happy to have the services of Morgan, who has been England’s key player in limited-overs cricket in the last few years.

Nitish Rana would play a key role at number 3 or 4 for KKR in IPL 2020. He has had a good IPL 2019 playing many good knocks for them. But, apart from these 4, KKR do not have a good middle-order backup who can cover-up in case of any injury to anyone of the above 4. 

Chirs Green, Nikhil Naik are good available options, but, to be honest, they don’t inspire much confidence. Meanwhile, there could be a possibility of Gill playing at 3 to accommodate Narine-Banton or Narine-Tripathi at the top.

In metrics, Andre Russell gets a rating of 9.25, Dinesh Karthik gets a rating of 8.75, while Morgan gets a rating of 8.5. In backups, Nitish Rana gets a rating of 8,25, Chris Green and Shubman Gill get a rating of 7.25 each, and Nikhil Naik gets a rating of 6.5. 

Overall, KKR get a cumulative average rating of 8.35 in the middle-order category.

All-rounders – 8.9

Two Main All-rounders: Andre Russell and Sunil Narine

Good Backup All-rounder: Nitish Rana

Other Backup All-rounder(s): Chris Green

The strongest of the 5 categories for Kolkata Knight Riders with Andre Russell and Sunil Narine as team’s core all-rounders. It is no secret that these two are among the only few all-rounders who are good in both the departments, and have been doing better than any all-rounder in IPL. 

But, when we look at the backups, KKR struggle slightly as the only good names that come in the picture are Chris Green and Nitish Rana. While Chris Green is a good overseas prospect, Team would have to rely on the part-time off-spin of Nitish Rana. 

In metrics, Andre Russel is the benchmark with a rating of 10, Sunil Narine gets a rating of 9, Nitish Rana gets a rating of 8.08, and Chris Green gets a rating of 7.75. 

Overall, KKR get a superb cumulative average rating of 8.9 in the all-rounders category.

Spinners – 8.03

Two Main Spinners: Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav

Good Backup Spinner: Chris Green

Other Backup Spinner(s): Varun Chakravarthy and Nitish Rana

Kolkata Knight Riders have two world-class spinners in their rooster in the form of Sunil Narine and Kuldeep Yadav, but, unfortunately, both had an underwhelming IPL 2019, and are currently struggling for form; especially Kuldeep. 

Backing them are new timers, Chris Green and Varun Chakravarthy. Chris Green is a good finger spinner, and would be useful on slow and low pitches of Chennai and Delhi. Varun, on the other hand, hasn’t had a good start to his IPL campaign, but there’s definitely talent there, and he will have to come good for KKR this season. 

In metrics, Sunil Narine gets a rating of 9, Kuldeep Yadav gets a rating of 8.75, Chris Green gets a rating of 7.5, and Varun Chakravarthy gets a rating of 6.75.  

Overall, KXIP get a cumulative average rating of 8.03 in the spinners category.

Pacers – 8.25

Two Main Pacers: Pat Cummins and Lockie Ferguson

Good Backup Pacer: Andre Russell

Other Backup Pacer(s): Prasidh Krishna, Harry Gurney, Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and Sandeep Warrier. 

Kolkata Knight Riders would be the only team in the tournament to not have an experienced Indian pacer in the squad. The most experienced Indian pacer of the lot is Prasidh Krishna, and he is just 24-years-old having played only 18 IPL matches. 

But, KKR’s two best pacers are undoubtedly Pat Cummins and Lockie Ferguson. Both have been in stunning form in International cricket, and would want to replicate that form in IPL too. While Lockie might not play all the matches due to overseas restrictions, Pat Cummins would lead KKR’s pace attack in IPL 2020. 

Prasidh Krishna would be the team’s main Indian pacer after having had good domestic outings. He would get good backup support in the form of Harry Gurney, Shivam Mavi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, and Sandeep Warrier.

In metrics, Pat Cummins gets a rating of 9, Lockie Ferguson gets a rating of 8.5, Andre Russell and Prasidh Krishna get a rating of 7.75 each, Harry Gurney gets a rating of 7.5, and the trio of Mavi, Nagarkoti, and Warrier get a rating of 6.75 each.  

Overall, KKR get a cumulative average rating of 8.25 in the pacers category.

Conclusion: 

Kolkata Knight Riders get an overall squad rating of 8.28 for IPL 2020. Dinesh Karthik led KKR may look slightly short of experience with Indian players, but the overseas quartet looks tenacious, and would have to lead from the front. Expect KKR to do well in the league phase, but winning the tournament has many ifs and buts in place.   

Thanks for reading! What is your view on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad rating for IPL 2020? Please let us know in the comments section.  

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