IPL 3.0 Behold the Knights

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS

Undoubtedly the team of the masses and classes. There is no team too HOT and too COOL at the same time! Everyone from 8 to 80 simply love the team... rather let me put it as the team's co-owner Mr. Shahrukh Khan. He is their leading Knight. But off the field. And off the field the team has not been behind in any aspect. They have had their share of controversies nevertheless. But, its the on-field performances that the fans have not been able to digest. Supposed to be the team having their Dada Ganguly, #1 Ponting, Carribean calypso Gayle, Baz Mc Kill'em and to be coached by multiple world cup winning coach, John Buchanan just no one thought they would STINK! I mean everything fell in its place, strong team, shrewd coach, dreamy international players, people's fav but it was not to be. In the first season they ended 6th in the league table(with a win percentage of 45%). It was acceptable and they came close only to lose the semis spot. But, the second edition right at the bottom of the table!(win percentage of 21%) something had gone wrong terribly. Perhaps, the coach's idea of multiple captaincy had back-fired, and the team's unity was questioned far too often. The team was much involved in matters other than cricket and nothing of that helped.

This time the team has entered with an all-new look. Yes, new coach, new staff, new(back to old)captain, new jerseys, new owners oops.. my bad! Good for them, they bought Shane Bond in the auctions winning the secret bid but, no idea why his name is not in the final squad. That's as weird as KKR can get. Perhaps, some new strategy! This time from Dav Whatmore. :P They have finally got hold of local lad Manoj Tiwari from the Delhi Daredevils and also got Owais Shah but have had to trade Moises Henriques to them.

SQUAD:Cheteshwar Pujara, Owais Shah, Chris Gayle, Manoj Tiwary, Charl Langeveldt, Harshad Khadiwale, Chirag Pathak, Varun Aaron, Eklakh Ahmed, Ganapathi Vignesh, Iqbal Abdulla, Murali Kartik, Ishant Sharma, Brendon McCullum, Brad Hodge, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Sourav Ganguly, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Wriddhiman Saha, Ashoke Dinda, Ajit Agarkar, Rohan Gavaskar.

STRENGTHS: umm... yea, no no that cant be told here ummmm... how about.. never mind.!! carry on..

WEAKNESS: Dada, Gayle, Baz, Hodge(in T20) all are openers, at least 2 have to sacrifice that spot. No Bond means money invested but no one to repay it with performance. DJ is missing from the squad as well, no idea why! Crowned losers in South Africa have to perform or perish.

WATCH OUT FOR: Pujara was injured last season just before the IPL started this time hopefully, we see him in action. ICL hero Ganapathi Vignesh has been roped in and has a reputation to dismantle attacks. Charl Langeveldt form in India-SAF series was impressive, has the sensible head on shoulders with good variation.

Wah's xi:

• Gayle
• Mc Kill'em*
• Dada©
• Hodge
• Che Pujara
• Manoj Tiwari
• vignesh
• Saha*/Shukla
• Charl Langeveldt/Mathews
• Ishant Sharma
• Murali Kartik

Wah say: KKR will want to repeat what Chargers have done in SAF last season. Rising from the ashes to claim the league championship. It's very tough indeed(I'd say impossible but..) Team looks good to better the performance from last season's crash course. Most likely to miss the bus the semis other teams look superior as a team rather than individual strengths. They are ready to upset others chances though so, watch out for the Knights!