Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels Kolkata Knight Riders’ biggest strength is their Indian batting contingent. KKR has Indian batters like Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, and Rinku Singh and the franchise will depend on their shoulders.
Venkatesh Iyer scored 404 runs in 14 matches in the previous season of the IPL at an average of 28.86 and a blistering strike rate of 145.84 whereas Rinku Singh scored 474 runs in 14 matches of IPL 2023 at an average of 59.23 and a strike rate of 149.53. Singh has been in fine form in the recent past and he will hold the key for KKR.
“The first strength you see is the Indian batting contingent. They have Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh. Just think about it, four good Indian players who have all played for India,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“Rinku Singh is in red-hot form. Shreyas Iyer is on a comeback trail. Venkatesh Iyer was also playing decently, he played well last year too, and Nitish Rana is a very good player. So that makes it four Indian batters,” the former India opener added.
Chopra wants KKR to play Rahmanullah Gurbaz on a turning pitch whereas he wants the team to back Phil Salt on a flat pitch.
“That’s their biggest strength because if you prepare even slightly turning pitches, you need a batting lineup that plays spin well. If it’s a turning pitch, they might play Rahmanullah Gurbaz. If it’s a flat pitch, they might play Phil Salt,” he stated.
The renowned commentator added that KKR’s other strength is their spin battery. KKR has quality spinners like Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Suyash Sharma, and Anukul Roy.
“So the Indian batting core is very good and the same is the case with the spinners. The spin department is excellent. You have Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Suyash Sharma and Anukul Roy,” he observed.
“You have four good spinners, in whom all options are available. You have a leg-spinner in the form of Suyash, a mystery spinner in the form of Varun, Sunil Narine – another off-spinner or mystery spinner, and then you have got Anukul Roy, who can give you left-arm spin,” Chopra elaborated.
KKR will begin their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 23.
