On Saturday, April 2, the Duckworth-Lewis method resulted in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) losing their initial matchup against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by a narrow seven-run margin. The Knights will face the in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on April 6 and will need to improve in their next match.
KKR had cause for concern before the tournament even started because their captain, Shreyas Iyer, was ruled out due to a back injury he sustained during the Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia.
In addition to losing their leader, KKR also lost their star batsman at the top of the order, and his absence was very felt in the opening match, when KKR lost their first three wickets for just 29 runs.
In their first game, Kolkata also played without fast bowler Lockie Ferguson because the pacer is recovering from a niggle.
Presently new news has shown up that Bangladeshi charm Shakib Al Hasan has chosen to quit the IPL, refering to public obligation and individual purposes behind his exit from the opposition. Since KKR is only in the beginning stages of their quest for a third IPL trophy, this new blow will be a major source of concern for them. In light of this, let’s talk about three reasons why KKR suffers greatly from Shakib Al Hasan’s absence.
#1 World-Class All-Rounder
Shakib Al Hasan is without a doubt one of the world’s best all-rounders. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the world, which reflects this fact in the ICC rankings. 1 all-rounder in ODI and T20 cricket and ranked No. 3 in Cricket Tests.
His versatility as a fielder, left-arm spinner, and technically proficient batter would have provided the KKR lineup with much-needed balance and depth.
#2 Leadership Abilities
Shakib Al Hasan is a seasoned leader who has captained Bangladesh in each of the three formats at various points in his career.
Without any Shreyas Iyer, the KKR the board has placed their confidence in youth Nitish Rana to lead the side. Shakib’s presence in the team would have been hugely beneficial to the youngster because he would have been able to provide the youngster with advice and suggestions at crucial points in the game.
#3 Experienced player for KKR
Since 2011, Shakib Al Hasan has been a part of KKR. He is the only member of the team who was on the winning teams in 2012 and 2014.
In this way, his experience of the playing conditions at Eden Nurseries would have been of colossal worth to the whole group as well as to the research organization of the establishment.