Inconsistent KKR need top order to fire

Kolkata Knight Riders had the opportunity to make the playoffs if they managed to win one of their last two matches, both away games. But they failed to chase targets in Mumbai. The defending champions eventually finished fifth, having recorded seven wins (only two away), six defeats (five away) and one match that ended in no result.

In 2012, they won their first IPL title. The following season, they finished seventh. In 2014, they won their second title. Last year, they finished fifth. Will Kolkata Knight Riders be third-time lucky this season?

If they are to become the first team in the IPL to win three crowns, the Knight Riders need to polish their finishing skills and end-over bowling, two areas they were vulnerable in last season. In those crucial away games at the end of the tournament, Mumbai looted 72 runs after being 99 for 4 in 15 overs and Rajasthan started in dominant fashion and had passed 100 by the halfway stage before scoring 53 in the final five overs. Even though Knight Riders lost both matches by a small margin - five and nine runs respectively - it exposed their fragility in the lower order and the inability of the top order to create a solid platform.

Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir and his opening partner Robin Uthappa need to take the responsibility of establishing a strong start. Last year, Knight Riders' top-order batsmen (Nos. 1 to 3) averaged 25.44 with just four fifties in 38 innings. Only Kings XI Punjab were worse.

There is bound to be a change in mindset with Jacques Kallis having migrated to the head coach position after his retirement. He took the seat vacated by Trevor Bayliss, who moved on to become England coach last year. The big advantage is the familiarity between Kallis and the team as well as the franchise management and owners, a key aspect in T20 leagues. Kallis will be assisted by former Australian batsman Simon Katich.

One advantage Knight Riders have is being one of the few teams with an established set-up. Only Mumbai Indians, and to an extent, Kings XI Punjab have retained their core players, while making minor changes to the existing squads from previous years. Gambhir has been at the helm since 2011, and all his senior lieutenants know their roles and are proven match-winners. It is about reminding themselves of those basics in crunch situations.

Will Sunil Narine 2.0 be as effective as his old self?

With the focus on his bowling action likely to be as severe as it was last year, the West Indies offspinner could play a restricted role till he becomes totally confident with his new action. In the interim, the onus is on senior Australian left-arm chinaman Brad Hogg. Hogg showed last year that he can share the workload with Uttar Pradesh spin twins Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav. Chawla, with his legbreaks, and Kuldeep, the chinaman bowler, with his effective googlies, helped Uttar Pradesh win the Syed Mushtaq Ali title in January, and they will once again play a crucial role in the middle overs.

No doubt Andre Russell, last IPL's MVP, will be up there but it is his overseas team-mate Shakib Al Hasan who might play a lead role this season for Knight Riders. Unlike last year, when he was forced to play the home series against Pakistan and missed the first half of the tournament, the Bangladesh allrounder will be available for entire season. Shakib was the only player with more than 200 runs and ten wickets when the Knight Riders won the IPL in 2014. He is one of four KKR allrounders to have done across all IPL seasons. Shakib fits into any rung of the batting order: he can build a platform or explode towards the end. Also, with his left-arm spin, he has the knack of pushing the opponent on the back foot and sneaking past the edge or the defensive bat frequently.

If you have seen Colin Munro switch-hit an international fast bowler into the stands, you would understand how brutal this left-hand batsman can be. Munro is the owner of the second-fastest fifty in T20 internationals, which came off 14 deliveries against Sri Lanka at Eden Park in January. As New Zealand captain Kane Williamson put it, it was like watching a highlights package. The innings was enough to get Munro into the World T20 squad, and possibly played a role in Knight Riders picking him late in the auction for just INR 30 lakh (US$44,000 approx). Since January 2015, Munro's strike-rate of 156.55 is fourth best among those who have faced 500-plus balls. The players ahead of him are Russell, Chris Gale and AB de Villiers. Knight Riders can do with Munro's ballistic launches, especially in the Powerplay where they struggled last season.

Sunil Narine's father died recently and he had to head back home to Trinidad. Kallis said Narine would be given as much time as he needed to decide when he wants to play. And when he returns, Narine is likely to be given enough time to adjust to his remodelled bowling action.

Jacques Kallis (head coach), Simon Katich (assistant coach), Wasim Akram (bowling consultant), Andrew Leipus (physio), Adrian le Roux (trainer)

"I suppose it is an advantage going into coaching soon after retirement. The game has changed. For the last couple of years, it has jumped up a level... It's nice to be part of the modern-day game as I need to see what works and what doesn't."
Jacques Kallis talks about his first ever coaching assignment as the head coach of Knight Riders.