How can Ami KKR bring back the old 2012 and 2014 purple magic?

In the last few matches, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have had a tough time in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They are on a four-match losing streak; the Kolkata based franchise started the season in fine fashion, winning three out of the first four matches. But, post that, life has been difficult for Shreyas Iyer and his team.

Even Delhi Capitals haven't had the greatest of the season; they are struggling to find their feet, having just won three out of the seven matches they have played in. 

One could critically argue that DC and KKR have the same number of wins. However, the Rishabh Pant-led side has been having a rollercoaster-like tournament, while Shreyas Iyer's unit, who jumped high on the bungee initially, are drowning low currently.

So, let's look at ways how KKR can get back to the groove they were in at the start of the season:

Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane were a part of the Delhi setup under Ponting and are well aware of the strengths and weaknesses of some of their key players in Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel. The insights that they have about these players will help them plan precisely.

Backing their openers is something that KKR must do to get back to winning ways. Changing and chopping things at the top never helps as it doesn't allow a team to settle. The Kolkata based franchise has tried four different opening pairs in their last four matches, which doesn't help. They need to stick to one and make sure they back them till the final match of the league stage.

Getting past the DC top order is the biggest headache they will have heading into this fixture. David Warner and Prithvi Shaw have been the x-factor for DC, and they will have to figure out a way to get them back to the pavilion as soon as possible.

Plan against Shaw is as simple as it gets, an inswinger on the fifth stump that nips back in sharply, and he is back in the pavilion. The question is, does KKR have a bowler who can execute the plan? Yes, they do. Tim Southee is someone who can set him up with a few outswingers and then bowl that dream inswinger.

When it comes to Warner, a mystery spinner can surely trouble him, but the form of Varun Chakravarthy is a concern for KKR. Fellow countryman Pat Cummins is the other option with a back of a length delivery just outside off stump from round the wicket.

The secret to success has gone missing for KKR:

For ages, the Kolkata based franchise have trusted its spinners to do the job for them. Narine has been the go-to man for them, but he hasn't been that effective in the past few seasons. Everything is fine in terms of economy rate, but the number of wickets has gone down with every passing year. Varun has been doing the job of picking up those wickets, and the two players have been supporting each other for a number of years. 

The story has a slight twist this time around: Varun has been smoked to all parts of the ground, and there is no real mystery about him. This has been a big reason for KKR's struggle so far; they need to find a way out. So either Varun gets back in form, or they replace him with Ramesh Kumar, another mystery spinner who has no real experience playing professional cricket but is a part of the KKR squad. He can come in as a surprise and might do wonders for them.