Settled Core, Well-Tested Finishers - SWOT Analysis of KKR for IPL 2024

Kolkata Knight Riders will aim for their third title in IPL 2024 (Source: x.com)Kolkata Knight Riders will aim for their third title in IPL 2024 (Source: x.com)

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League is nearing its beginning. Ahead of the tournament, we at OneCricket are taking a closer look at all the teams and analysing their strengths and weaknesses for the tournament. 

We have already taken a look at the Chennai Super Kings, the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Gujarat Titans. Here, we will delve into the squad of the two-time IPL champions, the Kolkata Knight Riders.


KKR Full Squad for IPL 2024

Batters: Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Jason Roy, KS Bharat, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Manish Pandey.

All-rounders: Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunile Narine, Sherfane Rutherford.

Spinners: Suyash Sharma, Varun Chakravarthy, Mujeeb ur Rahman.

Pacers: Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya, Mitchell Starc, Sakib Hussain, Dushmnatha Chameera. 


Strengths of KKR for IPL 2024

Nitish Rana and Shreyas Iyer will be the mainstays of the KKR team (Source: x.com)Nitish Rana and Shreyas Iyer will be the mainstays of the KKR team (Source: x.com)

Stable Core

The KKR management has kept the team's core the same for the past couple of seasons. This will be the biggest strength for the team in IPL 2024. 

They have suffered a bit due to the injuries to some of their crucial players. However, things are going right for them, and most of their players are supposed to be available for the tournament.

The players are familiar with the dressing room culture and how the franchise works. Thus, we expect to see a well-coordinated team effort from the Knights in this season of the IPL. 

Power in the middle and lower middle order

IPL 2023 was the Rinku Singh season. He emerged, evolved and established himself as a powerful finisher. Andre Russell and Sherfane Rutherford will be there this season with him to aid him in giving the Knights some strong finishes. 

Russell and Sunil Narine have been an asset to this team for many years. Rutherford will add strength and variety to the team's all-round section. Thus, an overall look gives us the impression that there will be plenty of depth, variety, and flexibility in the all-rounder section of the team. 


Weaknesses of KKR for IPL 2024

Weak leadership group

Shreyas Iyer will be leading the KKR team this season. He is yet to prove himself as an able leader. Therefore, the leadership looks weak for the team. 

The players who might be a part of the leadership core do not have an excellent record as team captains. Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine, who could be Iyer's advisers, have not yet become good leaders. Thus, a problem might arise in the team's decision-making department during crunch situations. 


Opportunity of KKR in IPL 2024

Grooming the future core

The biggest positive for the KKR team is their young group of players. Shreyas Iyer is a young leader, and under him, players like Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Suyash Sharma have the chance to be the team's core for the next few years. This year will allow the Knights to test the mettle of these youngsters under pressure and thus groom them for future seasons. 

The presence of the most successful skipper of KKR, Gautam Gambhir, as the team's mentor, will act as a great impetus for the team. He can induce a positive approach and a winning mentality within this young group.


Threats of KKR in IPL 2024

Mitchell Starc will be in charge of the KKR pace attack (Source: x.com)Mitchell Starc will be in charge of the KKR pace attack (Source: x.com)

Dependency on injury prone players

KKR have spent a fortune securing the services of the lead Australian speedster, Mitchell Starc. He will be leading the pace attack of the KKR in this edition. But Starc has a history of getting injured, which might cost the team some crucial matches in the tournament. 

Besides, KKR will also depend a lot on players like Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, and Mujeeb Rahman. The history of these players with injuries is not too great; thus, the team might struggle during the tournament. 

SWOT Analysis of KKR for IPL 2024 (Source: OneCricket)SWOT Analysis of KKR for IPL 2024 (Source: OneCricket)


Predicted XI of KKR for their first match of IPL 2024

Predicted XI of KKR for their first match of IPL 2024 (Source: OneCricket)Predicted XI of KKR for their first match of IPL 2024 (Source: OneCricket)

*Rahmanullah Gurbaz will replace Jason Roy

Kolkata Knight Riders' Squad Evaluation

Batting

Experience - 8/10
Power - 8.5/10
Depth - 8/10
Finishing - 8/10

Rating - 8.125/10

Bowling

Experience - 8.5/10
Powerplay Potentital - 8/10
Middle-overs Potential - 8/10
Death-overs Potential - 7/10

Rating - 7.875/10

Overall Rating - 8/10


Prediction for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2024

The KKR looks a well-balanced team for the tournament. They should make it to the playoffs of IPL 2024. But the weakness in the leadership group might stop their journey there and they might not be able to play the summit clash of the tournament.