Team Profile: Kolkata Knight Riders

From the time of the inception of the Indian Premier league, the Kolkata Knight Riders have been proficient in grabbing eyeballs. With a Bollywood superstar as the owner nothing less was expected. Shah Rukh Khan has regularly brought with him his own set of cheerleaders and the fanatic following that Sourav Ganguly enjoyed in his hometown made it one of the most successful franchisees off the field but the on field results were a huge let down in the first three seasons. This however did not dim the interest surrounding the team. From Brendon McCullum's swashbuckling innings in the first ever IPL game to the raging debates that surrounded John Buchannan's new age tactics, the Knight Riders were always grabbing headlines. The fourth season ushered in a change at the top level. Ganguly made way for another southpaw, Gautam Gambhir and with that their fortunes too changed considerably. They finished fourth which was their highest ever standing in the IPL. With this they also gradually won back some of the home fans who were disgruntled with the ousting of Ganguly. The build up to the fifth season has been low key by KKR standards and if it is a deliberate move then it is one that will benefit the cricketers hugely. The expectations however will continue to peak once the cricket begins. STRENGTHSThe balance between youth and experience is one of the biggest strengths of KKR. One look at the team sheet gives the same impression. In Gambhir, Jacques Kallis and Brett Lee they have some of the most seasoned veterans. The likes of Brendon McCullum, Shakib al Hasan and Yusuf Pathan form a bridge between the veterans and the youngsters like Manoj Tiwary, Pradeep Sangwan and Iqbal Abdulla. It is this balance that will hold the key for KKR if they are to do well throughout the long duration of the tournament.WEAKNESSWhile the batting has a settled look about it , the bowling fails to inspire the same confidence. Brett Lee will have to shoulder the responsibility of being the leader of an inexperienced attack. Jacques Kallis, Shakib and Laksmipathy Balaji will have to consistently be at their best too for KKR to strike gold.STAR PLAYERYusuf Pathan: The big hitting Yusuf is an instant crowd puller and is capable of winning games single handedly. In familiar conditions in India, he will be the most feared player in the KKR ranks for the opposition but once he turns it on, it will be a feast for anyone watching. Spectators will willingly put aside any parochial reservations to watch this man in full flow.Brendon McCullum: A player in a very similar mode to Yusuf, the Kiwi has been in good touch in the recent series against South Africa. He will be desperate to make amends for the poor season he had with KKR previously. His return adds a lot of balance to the team and people are still expecting an encore of his knock against RCB in 2008.PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FORSunil Narine: The wily spinner from the Caribbean has proven to be a tough customer in the shorter formats. His impressive variety has left a lot of big names bamboozled and is one player who has shown all the promise of becoming a superstar in the future.KKR in IPL