IPL 2021: The addition of Shakib Al Hasan lends more balance to Kolkata Knight Riders | SWOT analysis

Xtra Time Web Desk: Two time former IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders will be keen to cross the line this season in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021). Eoin Morgan leg side came tantalizingly close to qualifying for the playoffs last season in UAE. The knights have not been able to deliver the goods when it mattered the most in the last three seasons. The team owners made some big decisions ahead of IPL 2021. They added some new names including former Knight Shakib Al Hasan who has been part of both the champion sides in 2012 and 2014. Here is a complete SWOT analysis of the KKR squad for IPL 2021 season:

Strengths:

The real strength of Kolkata Knight Riders strength lies in their overseas recruits with the likes of captain Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Pat Cummins. This season they have further strengthened their side by bringing back star Bangladesh all rounder and former Knight Shakib Al Hasan. The franchise has also added two T20 specialists in Ben Cutting and Tim Seifert who can make an impact in the shorter format. The side coached by Brendon McCullum will be looking forward to his compatriot Lockie Fergusson producing some match winning performances if required. The Knight Riders have one of the best spin bowling attacks, with a lot of variety. There is plenty of options to look up to as far as spin bowling combination is concerned with the likes of Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, Varun Chakravarthy and veteran Harbhajan Singh.

Weakness:

Lack of finisher in the side can once again haunt the Knight Riders. Although they boast of having the likes of Andre Russell and experienced Dinesh Karthik in their ranks but both were found wanting when it mattered in key situations during last season. The middle order lacks quality Indian players with over dependence on the experienced Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik. It remains to be seen how Nitish Rana, Karun Nair, Rinku Singh, Rahul Tripathi and Sheldon Jackson deliver in the season. The form of Kuldeep Yadav will also be a concern for the Knight Riders.  

Opportunity:

It goes without saying that the Indian Premier League is a perfect platform to showcase your talent. Once again it will create an opportunity for several promising youngsters. The biggest example is Prasidh Krishna and Varun Chakravarthy who could only break into the national team courtesy their performances in the IPL. It will be a huge opportunity for players like Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi to make an impact.

Threats:

Sunil Narine is the top overseas spinner of the Kolkata Knight Riders. But Narine’s action has come under the scanner. His new action has not helped him achieve so much success as the previous bowling style. Most of the KKR bowlers has been injury prone and has a history of multiple injuries in the past. Varun Chakravarthy failed to make it to the India squad after failing twice in fitness test. Shakib Al Hasan suffered multiple injuries in the series against West Indies. So, staying fit throughout the season will be a major challenge for the KKR bowlers.

Key players:

Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Shakib Al Hasan, Shubman Gill and Sunil Narine.

KKR full squad for IPL 2021:

Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Nitish Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Rinku Singh, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Mavi, Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Rahul Tripathi, Varun Chakravarthy, Tim Seifert, Shakib Al Hasan, Sheldon Jackson, Harbhajan Singh, Ben Cutting, Venkatesh Iyer, Pawan Negi, Vaibhav Arora and Karun Nair.