kOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS

Skipper Sourav Ganguly was let go, and a new core base was created with Gautam Gambhir, Rajat Bhatia, Jacques Kallis, and Sunil Narine. The emphasis was on unorthodox players who can adapt quickly to the challenges of T20 cricket. Trevor Bayliss, who helped Sri Lanka finish runner-up in the 2011 World Cup and guided Sydney Sixers to success in BBL and Champions League t20, was named as the coach. 

All these bold moves made an instant impact, as KKR won their maiden IPL trophy in 2012. The franchise continued to excel as they won the IPL trophy again in 2014, returning from a poor 2013 season where the team finished seventh. 

From 2016 to 2018, KKR played excellent cricket to reach the top four in three successive seasons. The franchise’s success was mainly due to its effective strategy of letting go of senior players and bringing in domestic stalwarts. Players like Andre Russell and Narine have excelled consistently. 

In 2021, KKR reached the final once again under the leadership of Eoin Morgan but lost to Chennai Super Kings. In the next two seasons, the two-time champions failed to perform up to their potential.

The 2024 season saw KKR make a grand comeback. They topped the table with ten wins in 14 league stage fixtures and won a third IPL title after thrashing Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in the final. Narine, Russell, Varun Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, and Phil Salt played pivotal roles in KKR’s success.