Knight Riders after a topsy-turvy history with the IPL climbed on to a massive change to their team after the third edition of IPL. The change seemed to work for them as they reached the semi-finals of IPL-4, their best performance in the tournament so far. The team from Kolkata won eight matches to qualify for their first ever semi-finals. Shah Rukh Khan’s team has undoubtedly seen the worse; they were sixth in the inaugural edition, last in the year after that and again sixth in 2010.

Gautam Gambhir will lead the side for the second time and the amount of talent he has, he is sure to fancy his team’s chance.
Knight Riders had the biggest buys in last year’s auction and going by the money they have put in their side, the management will be expecting big things from the men in gold. Going by the strength that they have in both their batting and bowling, Knight Riders should qualify for the semi-finals until something dramatic happen.


One of the all-time great all-rounder Jacques Kallis will open for the Knight Riders. He is one of the most profound run-getters in IPL’s history. His name has always been in the list of the top run-scorers and was the holder of the Orange Cap for quite a bit of time. Than they have one of the most exciting talent of England team in the form of Eoin Morgan. Morgan is a specialist in this format and his unorthodox batting style can be very effective. The Kolkata team has once again roped in the explosive Kiwi, Brendon McCullum. McCullum apart from the one inning that he played in the first match of the IPL-1 did not do much for the Kolkata team and that was the reason why he was not picked in the IPL-4 auction. He is once again is back with his first team and going by his recent form; he will be a player to watch out for.

The captain Gautam Gambhir is in a mood to lead the pack from the top. He is very effective in all formats and has played well in all the IPL’s. He will be supported ably by Manoj Tiwary. Tiwary has been warming the bench for the national side and will be raring to go, he played some gem of the innings in the previous edition finished quite a few matches for the Knight Riders. Knight Riders have one of the biggest hitter in world cricket

Apart from the big names, Knight Riders also have some utility players in their team. Local all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla is coming on the verge of some terrific domestic performance. Manvinder Bisla also played some quick-fire knocks for his side in the previous edition.

The team also has one of the most experienced international fast bowler in their side in the form of Brett Lee. He has been the spearhead of the Australian attack for more than a decade and will look to lead the fast bowling pack for the Kolkata side. Lee is very effective in the death overs and can win a match on his own. The young fast bowling sensation James Pattinson will also dawn the Knight Riders’ colour.

Kolkata has included the mystery spinner Sunil Narine to their squad. Narine was very impressive in the last year’s Champions League and will be looking to repeat his feat. Narine troubled the Aussie batsmen in the recent series and will be exciting to watch if he will get the chance.

Along with these key Indian bowlers, they also have Jaydev Unadkat who played in South Africa and Pradeep Sangwan who has a good domestic record.

Players to watch out from Kolkata Knight Riders: Yusuf Pathan, Brendon McCullum, Gautam Gambhir, Brett Lee

Kolkata Knight Riders complete squad

GautamGambhir, Eoin Morgan, Manoj Tiwary, Debabrata Das, ChiragJaini, Brad Haddin, ManvinderBisla, Brendon McCullum, Sanju Samson, Shakib-Al-Hasan, Ryan Ten Doeschate, Jacques Kallis, Yusuf Pathan, LaxmiRatanShukla, Rajat Bhatia, Brett Lee, James Pattinson, LakshmipathyBalaji, JaydevUnadkat, Iqbal Abdulla, Shami Ahmed, PradeepSangwan, SarabjitLadda, Sunil Narine, IreshSaxena, Marchant De Lange