Team preview | Knight Riders bolster armoury, mount campaign for third title

The Kolkata side has recruited multidimensional players, added experience and improved its options in all departments in a bid to return to its glory days

After narrowly missing out on a playoff berth in two successive seasons, Kolkata Knight Riders has strengthened itself in two key areas ahead of the Indian Premier League’s 14th edition. The two-time champion has added experience and also enhanced its options in every department. The side has fortified itself with multidimensional players, hiring four all-rounders — Shakib Al Hasan, its ‘lucky charm’ in two title wins, Australian Ben Cutting, old hand Pawan Negi and newcomer Venkatesh Iyer — and two wicketkeeper-batsmen — New Zealander Tim Seifert and domestic stalwart Sheldon Jackson. Last season, KKR’s progress was dented to some extent because of the underperformance of Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, two vital components in the team’s makeup. Shakib and Cutting are seen as alternatives to the Caribbean duo, but some experimentation cannot be ruled out.