Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2017: Statistical analysis

With just a couple of days to go before the highly popular Twenty20 (T20) league in the world, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 kicks off, the build up to the stage has already begun in the full flow. As the eight teams get set to face off against each other to stand a chance to lay their hands on the coveted trophy for the 10th season, we also look as the teams on how they have performed till date, and owing to which, how can they perform this season. Meanwhile, we take a look at the statistical history and analyse it for the record two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). IPL 2017: Guide to Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) dark horses for IPL 10

KKR undoubtedly have been one of the better sides of the tournament, and are also one of the unpredictable ones. The two titles which they won in 2012 and 2014 too were unexpected ones, as hardly anyone had predicted before the season that KKR stand a chance to feature in the final. This was mainly due to KKR’s composition of low rated players and less star players in the side. However, hardly anyone knew that it was KKR’s strategy, which indeed turned out to be the right choice for the team, and a nightmare for the other seven sides, leading to their twin title glory.

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Therefore, looking at KKR’s side and analysing their statistics, the side has been led by Gautam Gambhir since it underwent an overhaul during the IPL Auction 2011.

Consequently, Gambhir has played the most games for the side, followed by players like Yusuf Pathan, Sunil Narine, Jacques Kallis, and others. It should also be noted that the twin IPL victories came under the very leadership of Gambhir, therefore making him the most successful captain of the side, and also one of most successful in the IPL. Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2017, Preview

Considering the most runs for the side, it is once again the skipper himself, who has scored more than 2,000 runs for the side, and is followed by Yusuf along with wicketkeeper-batsman Robin Uthappa, Kallis, while it also has a special mention of former skipper Sourav Ganguly, who is among the top five run-scorers for the side.

Now, considering the most amount of half-centuries scored for the side, it is once again dominated by the skipper Gambhir himself, who has 23 fifties for the side, and the only person to have it in double figures. He is then followed by Uthappa, Ganguly, Kallis, Yusuf and others.

As for the century scorers, there has been only one till date for the side, in the form of Brendon McCullum, who smashed a record 158 for the side in the very first game of the tournament, back in 2008. KKR in IPL 2017 schedule: Team and squad details, match time table and venues

Currently, among the batsmen, if we have a look at the most amount of boundaries scored for the side, it is once again conquered by the skipper Gambhir himself, who has hit nearly 300 boundaries for the side, while the men to follow him are Uthappa, Yusuf, Kallis, Ganguly et al. Clearly, with Gambhir dominating in most of the sections, it is understood why he has been one of the most successful players and skippers of the side.

Now, let us have a look at the most number of sixes hit by a KKR batsmen. Although KKR don’t have many star players, they do have a few power hitters in the side, and the stat table for most sixes for the side is dominated by the hard-hitter Yusuf Pathan. He is followed by the skipper Gambhir, along with Ganguly, Russell and others.

Well, that was all about batsmen. Let us now have a look at the statistics for the bowlers of the side, who are mostly famous and do the job for the side in most of the matches. Considering the most wicket-taker for the side, it has undoubtedly been the mystery West Indian spinner Sunil Narine, who has more than 80 scalps for the side, followed by Shakib Al Hasan, Kallis, Piyush Chawla and Laxmipathy Balaji.

When it comes to bowling, it is not just about wickets, but also about being economical. And one way to be an economical bowler is to bowl maidens. As for the most number of maidens for the side, it is once again Narine, who dominates the chart along with Balaji, Morne Morkel and Brett Lee. IPL 2017 revised Schedule: Fixture, Dates, Match Timings and Venue Details

Apart from the most wickets, bowlers are also considered on the number of wickets they claim in a tie. In T20s, a four-wicket haul is considered fair enough, and once again, it has been Narine who is the only person in the side to acclaim the feat, as he has done so on7 such instances.

Apart from the four-wicket haul, Narine also has a five-wicket haul.

Speaking about economical bowlers, it has once again been Narine, who has the best economy rate for the side, followed by Iqbal Abdulla, Murali Kartik, Ashoke Dinda among others.

And in case you don’t know, Narine also has a hat-trick to his name, and he is the only KKR player to do so.

Nevertheless, with now the batsmen and bowlers gone, it’s time to look at the fielding stats for the side. Considering the most number of catches for the side, Manoj Tiwary leads the chart, followed by Yusuf, Suryakuamr Yadav, Kallis et al.

As for the wicketkeerpers, they invariably have a grave task in hand. Apart from just collecting the ball, they also need to make sure that when required, they need to stump the batsman out. In this case, Uthappa leads the chart along with Manvinder Bisla, McCullum, Wriddhiman Saha and Shreevats Goswami.

And considering the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper, Uthappa once again dominates the table, followed by Bisla, McCullum, Saha among others.

Lastly, speaking of the captain himself, the most matches played by a captain for the side has been Gambhir, followed by Ganguly and McCullum.