With the ICC World Cup in England 2019 due to begin on May 30 and the season 12 of the IPL ending on May 23, there are some Indian players who will be keen to use this IPL season to stake their claims in the Indian team . Among them is Kolkata Knight Riders Skipper and wicket- Keeper Dinesh karthik.
While it is absolutely certain that legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the first choice as wicket- keeper, the battle is for the back- up wicket- keeper’s slot.
Here Karthik faces a stiff challenge from young flamboyant Delhi wicket- keeper Rishabh Pant. So for both pant and karthik season 12 has lot to play for not only for. The second keeper slot is up for grabs after Pant’s rather indifferent showing the recent ODI series against Australia.
Dinesh kathik had captained KKR well last year taking over from Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir had captained the KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.
The team though over the year’s in IPL has never been short of publicity and sponsors . After all the team is co – owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and actress Juhi Chawla.
KKR Team for 2019 : Dinesh Karthik (c), Robin Uthappa, Chris Lynn, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shubman Gill, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Carlos Brathwaite, Anrich Nortje, Lockie Ferguson, Harry Gurney, Nikhil Naik, Yarra Prithviraj, Shrikant Mundhe, Joe Denly
The team is fine combination of youth and experience. Top of the order has explosive Chris Lynn, Robin Uthappa, youngster Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana and skipper Karthik. And when it comes to brute force then there is Andre Russell . Even Sunil Narine can play some brilliant cameos at the top ( he showed that last year)
Bowling is sharp with Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Piyush Chawla, Kuldeep Yadav.
If the KKR team gets off to a good start to their campaign and sustains their form they could be a dangerous side. Having won twice they have tasted success and hence know to how to go about things.