Commentator-turned-cricketer Aakash Chopra believes Kolkata Knight Riders have very less chance of making it into the playoffs of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Ahead of the IPL 2023, KKR suffered a huge blow by losing out their skipper Shreyas Iyer due to a back injury.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, about the chances of the two-time champions making it to the final four of the league. Chopra feels the Kolkata-based side has only a 50 per cent chance to make it to the playoff–and added according to him, the team looks mid-table team in IPL 2023.
“Where can this team finish? We all want them to make it to the playoffs but can they do that? I am fifty-fifty. This team knows how to win, they have been champions twice and have reached the final even after playing a bad first half in IPL 2021, but it is looking like a mid-table team,” Aakash Chopra said.
The former Indian opener also asserted that the absence of their regular skipper Shreyas Iyer and reckoned it is important for the franchise to have him back in the team.
“This team will not go anywhere if Shreyas Iyer doesn’t get fit. You can take that in writing from me. It is imperative for Kolkata’s success that Shreyas Iyer is fit,” Chopra added.
In the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Kolkata Knight riders appointed Nitish Rana as their captain for the upcoming IPL season–and it will be interesting to see whether Shreyas Iyer can make it into the team at least in the latter half of the tournament.
Kolkata Knight Riders Have Very Good Wicket-Keeping Option – Aakash Chopra
Speaking on their wicket-keeping options, which was a problem for them during IPL 2022, when they tried Sheldon Jackson, Baba Indrajith, and Sam Billings. Aakash Chopra said that KKR has very good options this time around with the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Narayan Jagadeesan, and Litton Das.
“They have got new wicketkeeping options. Wicketkeepers were a problem until last year. Now they have kept Rahmanullah Gurbaz, N Jagadeesan – who had set the Vijay Hazare Trophy on fire, and Litton Das, who I rate very highly. Very good choices,” Chopra added.
Chopra further continued that Kolkata has a very good bowling attack as they have Lockie Ferguson, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Tim Southee on their side.
Kolkata Knight Riders, who won the championship in 2012 and 2014, will look to change their fortunes under the new skipper Nitish Rana and inspiring head coach Chandrakant Pandit, who is known as a domestic legend in coaching.
Kolkata Knight Riders will play their opening game of IPL 2023 on April 1st against Punjab Kings in Mohali.