3 KKR match-winners in IPL 2023 who had failed in IPL 2022
After an inconsistent start to their season, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) seem to be peaking at the right time to make a late charge for a spot in the IPL 2023 playoffs. Having lost four out of their first six games, it seemed like a lot had gone downhill for the franchise.
However, they have been able to win three out of their next five games and now sit in fifth position with 10 points gained and three games to go. This seems to be a much better season than the one last year, where they ended up in the seventh place.
One of the main reasons for this peak in form could be that some players who weren't performing to their full potential last year, seemed to have found their mojo this time around. On that note, let's take a look at three such players:
#3 Nitish Rana
Nitish Rana departs just after scoring a half-century.
📸: IPL
#IPL2023 #KKRvsPBKS #Cricket https://t.co/NKRLO8lLDv
KKR had suffered a massive blow when their skipper Shreyas Iyer was ruled out of the IPL 2023 season due to a back injury which needed surgery. After much deliberation, the Knight Riders appointed Nitish Rana as the stand-in captain and the move seemed to have paid dividends so far.
Last year, Rana scored 361 runs in 14 games at an average of 27.77. However, this season, he has already scored 326 runs runs and has also improved his overall strike rate to 146.85. He has been economical with the ball as well, conceding just 6.73 runs per over and also picking up three wickets. He has been leading by example and has been the strong leader KKR needed.
#2 Varun Chakravarthy
🏻
Varun Chakravarthy won the “Player of the match” award for his brilliant bowling 🙌🏻
📸: IPL/JioCinema
#IPL2023 #RCBvsKKR #CricketTwitter https://t.co/2GtL3e0OSc
After an impressive first couple of seasons for KKR where he picked 35 wickets, Varun Chakravarthy had a season to forget last year. He played 11 games, picking up just six wickets at an economy rate of 8.51, which is too high for someone who had the reputation of being economical.
However, this season, Chakravarthy has been on fire and has not let Sunil Narine's lack of form affect the Knight Riders that much. In 11 games so far, he has already picked 17 wickets and also has improved his economy rate to 7.85. He will be crucial to KKR's hopes of winning the remaining games and making it to the playoffs.
#1 Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer deservingly won the “player of the match” award 🔥
📸: JioCinema/IPL
#IPL2023 #MIvsKKR #CricketTwitter https://t.co/YTooqafTlH
370 runs in 10 games in IPL 2021 season propelled Venkatesh Iyer into limelight as he became the breakout star of the tournament, almost-single handedly taking KKR to the final.
However, the next season was not that great for him as he scored just 182 runs in 12 games at an appalling average of 16.55. But Venkatesh seems to be getting back on track this season in his new role as Impact Player.
In 11 games, he has scored 314 runs at a strike rate of 145.37, also becoming only the second KKR player after Brendon McCullum to score an IPL hundred. His role at No.3 seems to be crucial for the Knight Riders as they push for a playoff spot.