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Aakash Chopra currently doing Hindi cricket commentary at Viacom18

Aakash Chopra

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Commentator

He is a cricket commentator, YouTuber, and former cricketer who played for the Indian cricket team from 2003 to the end of 2004. Currently, he is doing Hindi commentary for Viacom18. He has also worked as a columnist for ESPNcricinfo. In domestic cricket in India, he played for Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan teams. He also played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. His international cricket career was very brief compared to his domestic career.

Jaffar Babu is a former Indian cricketer who made his debut in late 2003 against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. India was looking for an opening partner for his Delhi teammate Virender Sehwag at the time. During the 2003-04 tour of Australia, he formed many strong partnerships with Virender Sehwag. However, overall his international career was quite brief and he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in 2015 due to a low scoring rate and slow pace. He has been a long-time television commentator for Star Sports. His cricket commentary style is similar to Navjot Singh Sidhu but with a tendency to repeat lines, often using the same line with a fixed tone for different players. Fans have often criticized his commentary.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Longest Winning Streak Holders

Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is one of the favorite teams in IPL. The team has been a force to be reckoned with since its inception. Celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta Owners also add to the team's appeal. The team has had a solid record in the IPL, winning twice in 2012 and 2014, and holds the record for the longest winning streak by an Indian team in the T20s. Eden Gardens, home of KKR, has a rich history and is one of the most iconic cricket grounds in India. The stadium underwent a major refurbishment to meet the standards set by the International Cricket Council, including upgrading the clubhouse and player facilities and improving general infrastructure. The stadium has a capacity of about 68,000 seats and is owned by the Bangladesh Cricket Association. If you also want to enter this stadium in IPL 2023 and watch their amazing performance for yourself, you have to act fast.

 

Kolkata Knight Riders Team Analysis

Strength

Weakness

West-Indies Legendary Duo

Sunil Narine and Andre Russell’s injury concern

All-Round unit

Pat Cummins Absence

Strength

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in this year's IPL. The team boasts a well-balanced lineup that can hold its own against any opponent, and they have a secret weapon in their all-round unit. With the addition of experienced all-rounders Shakib Al Hasan and David Wiese, KKR's all-round unit has become even stronger. Shakib Al Hasan's presence in the team is particularly valuable. With Shreyas Iyer out of the picture for at least half a season, Shakib could be one of the captain choices for KKR. All eyes will be on this team as they take on their opponents, and fans can't wait to see what they'll bring to the table this IPL season.

 

Kolkata Knight Riders has been one of the most competitive teams in the Indian Premier League, and their consistent performance owes much to the duo of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. Andre Russell is a name that needs no introduction in the world of T20 cricket. Known for his sheer power-hitting ability, he has been instrumental in many of his team's victories. On the other hand, Sunil Narine brings in his enigmatic spin bowling, which has baffled the opposition batsmen often. With his top-order batting skills, he adds even more value to the team's lineup. Moreover, Shardul Thakur and Venkatesh Iyer bring in even more depth to the team's arsenal, in both batting and bowling. All in all, Kolkata Knight Riders looks like a formidable team that can go a long way in this year's IPL.

 

Weakness

Kolkata Knight Riders have been struggling to find a consistent opening pair since Gautam Gambhir retired. This affected their performance last year, and they finished in the seventh position in IPL 2022. To address this issue, they have brought in Liton Das and traded Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a settled top-order player. However, captaincy's choice is another weakness for the team, as Shreyas Iyer is out from half of the IPL season. His absence will be a huge loss for the team, given he was brought in for 12.25 Crore in IPL 2022 Auction but failed to deliver what he did for the Delhi Capitals. The Kolkata Knight Riders will have to regroup and come up with creative solutions to overcome this setback if they want to climb up the rankings and compete for the IPL trophy.

 

The West Indies duo of Dwayne Bravo and Sunil Narine have been a force to reckon with in the IPL for years. However, with them getting older and playing in numerous T20 leagues, concerns about their fitness have arisen. At 34 years old, it will be a challenge for them to feature in every match of the jam-packed IPL schedule. Adding to Kolkata Knight Rider's woes, is the news of Pat Cummins not participating in IPL 2023 due to the busy international schedule. While Cummins didn't have the best season last year, he still managed to score the joint fastest half-century in IPL history. The Indian Premier League is known for its unpredictable nature, and with all of these factors combined, it looks like the upcoming season will be an exciting one.

 

Kolkata Knight Riders Achievements

KKR has also been involved in some exciting encounters with its rivals, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. In their matches against Mumbai, KKR broke a losing streak in 2019, posting a total of 232 runs and winning by 34 runs, with Andre Russell scoring 80 runs. However, Mumbai has won all three games between them since then, making for an interesting rivalry.

The rivalry between KKR and Royal Challengers Bangalore is one of the oldest in the IPL. In their first match in the inaugural edition of IPL, KKR won by a whopping 140 runs, thanks to Brendon McCullum's stunning innings of 158*. The two teams have had some intense matches since then, with notable performances by Ross Taylor, Sunil Narine, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers.

 

Kolkata Knight Riders IPL table

Season

W

L

T

NRR

FOR

AGST

PTS

2022

6

8

0

0.146

2223/268.1

2249/276.1

12

2021

7

7

0

0.587

2119/259.5

2080/274.5

14

2020

7

7

0

-0.214

2219/278

2206/269.1

14

2019

6

8

0

0.028

2466/270.4

2419/266.2

12

2018

8

6

0

-0.07

2363/265.1

2425/270

16

 

Kolkata Knight Riders IPL Schedule

Date

Times

Match Details

Apr 06, Thu

19:30

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 9th Match

Apr 14, Fri

19:30

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, 19th Match

Apr 23, Sun

19:30

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, 33rd Match

Apr 29, Sat

15:30

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans, 39th Match

May 08, Mon

19:30

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, 53rd Match

May 11, Thu

19:30

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, 56th Match

May 20, Sat

19:30

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, 68th Match

 

Away

Date

Times

Match Details

Apr 01, Sat

15:30

Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 2nd Match

Apr 09, Sun

15:30

Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 13th Match

Apr 16, Sun

15:30

Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 22nd Match

Apr 20, Thu

19:30

Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 28th Match

Apr 26, Wed

19:30

Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 36th Match

May 04, Thu

19:30

Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 47th Match

Apr 23, Sun

19:30

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, 33rd Match

Notable Players of the Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders player

Kolkata Knights (KKR) are one of the most exciting teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Known for their strong batting, explosive bowling attack and nimble defence, KKR have been a force to be reckoned with. This year, the team has been backed by some exceptional talent, including Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Venkatesh Iyer, who all bring unique strengths.

 

Shreyas Santosh Iyer

Shreyas Santosh Iyer is an Indian cricketer who is known for his impressive performances in domestic cricket as well as international cricket. Born on December 6, 1994, in Mumbai, Iyer plays for the Indian cricket team as a Right-handed batter. He is the first Indian player to score a century in his debut test match and a half-century in the second innings against New Zealand in November 2021. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Iyer has played for different teams such as Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders. In 2018, he became the youngest captain to lead the Delhi Daredevils team in the IPL history at the age of 23 years and 142 days. He led the team into the playoffs for the first time after seven years in the 2019 season. In the 2020 season, he continued as the captain for Delhi Capitals and he also led them to their maiden IPL final against the Mumbai Indians.

 

Apart from his impressive IPL career, Iyer has also made a mark in international cricket. He made his ODI debut for India against Sri Lanka in December 2017 and scored 88 from 70 balls in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka at Mohali. In the second ODI against the West Indies in December 2019, Iyer scored 31 runs in one over, the most scored by a batsman for India in a single over in ODIs. He also scored his maiden century in ODI cricket in the first ODI against New Zealand in February 2020.

 

In September 2021, Iyer was named as one of three reserve players in India's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. In November 2021, he was named in India's Test squad for their series against New Zealand, and he made his Test debut on 25 November 2021, for India against New Zealand. He became the 16th Indian player to score a century in the debut test match. In the 2022 bilateral T20I series against Sri Lanka, Iyer broke Virat Kohli's record of most runs scored by an Indian batsman in a 3-match T20I bilateral series, scoring a total of 204 runs with three consecutive unbeaten half centuries.

 

Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana is a prominent Indian cricketer who plays for Delhi in domestic cricket and for Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He is a left-handed batsman and a part-time off-spinner bowler known for his aggressive batting style. Rana's talent was on full display during the 2015-16 season, where he made his first-class debut in the Ranji Trophy and finished the tournament with 557 runs, averaging 50.63. He also ended up as his team's leading run-scorer in the Vijay Hazare Trophy with 218 runs. However, it was during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy where he really made a name for himself as the leading six-hitter of the tournament. He struck 299 runs in just 8 innings at a strike rate of 175.88 and an average of 42.71.

 

In one memorable match against Andhra, Rana came to bat with Delhi struggling at 40 for 4 and launched a counterattacking innings of 97 off 40 balls, hitting 8 fours and 8 sixes, to take his team to 236 for 9 in 20 overs. He was also instrumental in Delhi's win against Baroda and Jharkhand where he scored 53 off 29 balls and an unbeaten 60 off 44 balls, respectively. Rana's impressive performances caught the attention of IPL teams, and he was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2018 IPL auction. He also earned a call-up to the India A team for the 2018-19 Deodhar Trophy and was named in India's squad for the 2018 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. In October 2019, he was selected to represent India B in the 2019-20 Deodhar Trophy.

 

In June 2021, Rana was named in India's ODI and T20I squads for their series against Sri Lanka. He made his ODI debut on 23 July 2021, and his T20I debut on 28 July 2021, for India against Sri Lanka. Although he didn't have a great start to his international career, his domestic performances suggest that he has the potential to make a big impact at the highest level.

 

Rahmanullah Gurbaz

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is a rising star in the world of cricket, representing Afghanistan at the international level. Born on 28 November 2001, he comes from the Gurbaz tribe in Afghanistan. Gurbaz made his List A debut for Afghanistan A against Zimbabwe A in 2017 and his Twenty20 debut for Mis Ainak Knights in the 2017 Shpageeza Cricket League. In September 2019, Gurbaz made his international debut for Afghanistan, and in January 2021, he became the first Afghan player to score a century on ODI debut, making 127 runs against Ireland. He has also played in various domestic T20 leagues around the world, including the Bangladesh Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, Pakistan Super League, and the Indian Premier League.

 

Gurbaz has represented Afghanistan in several youth tournaments, including the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup and the 2018 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. In October 2019, he was the leading run-scorer for Afghanistan in the 2018 ACC Under-19 Asia Cup. In September 2021, Gurbaz was named in Afghanistan's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. With his impressive batting skills, Gurbaz has become a key player for Afghanistan, and his future in the sport looks very promising. He is currently signed with the Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL 2023 season.

 

Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer, the young Indian cricketer, has been making headlines with his impressive performances in both domestic and international cricket. He has proved to be a valuable asset for his team, be it Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League or the Indian national team. Iyer's journey in the IPL began in February 2021 when he was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders at the auction. He made his IPL debut in September 2021, after the tournament resumed in the UAE, and went on to score his maiden IPL fifty against Mumbai Indians. He emerged as a key player for KKR, scoring 370 runs in the tournament at an average of 41 and a strike rate of 129.

 

Iyer's consistent performances in the IPL earned him a place in India's 2021 ICC T20 World Cup squad as a net bowler. He was later named in India's T20I squad for their series against New Zealand and made his debut in November 2021. He also made his international bowling debut in the final match of the series, returning figures of 3-0-12-1. In January 2022, Iyer was named in India's ODI squad for their series against South Africa and made his debut in the format. He continued his good form in the T20Is, where he played a finishing role in the lower middle order and picked up two wickets in the series against the West Indies.

 

In June 2022, Iyer was named in India's squad for their T20I series against Ireland, and he will be looking to continue his impressive performances and cement his place in the Indian team. With his all-round abilities and solid technique, Iyer has the potential to become a vital player for India in the years to come.

 

Andre Russell

Andre Dwayne Russell is a Jamaican cricketer who has played international cricket for West Indies as an all-rounder. He has also played for various T20 leagues around the world. Russell was part of the West Indies team that won the 2012 and 2016 ICC World T20 tournaments. He has played in over 300 T20 matches for several teams in franchise leagues. Russell made his Test cricket debut against Sri Lanka in November 2010, but he played only one test match in his career. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut in the 2011 Cricket World Cup match against Ireland at Mohali. After a poor home series against Pakistan, he made his mark against India. In the 5th ODI at Sabina Park in Kingston, he was named the Player of the Match as he took 4/35 (from 8.3 overs) to dismiss India for 251 in 47.1 overs.

 

Russell has been a part of various franchise leagues. During the 2012 Indian Premier League Players Auction, he was bought by the Delhi Daredevils for $450,000. Ahead of the 2014 season, he was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders and has been seen as a key batsman for the team in the later overs of matches. He won the IPL Super Striker award in 2019, awarded for having the highest strike rate in the tournament, and was also announced as the Player of the Tournament. Russell has also played in other T20 leagues such as the Global T20 Canada cricket tournament and the Afghanistan Premier League tournament. In August 2016, he scored the fastest Caribbean Premier League century, completing his 100 in 42 balls. He broke his own CPL record in 2018 with a century in 40 balls. In July 2020, he was named in the Jamaica Tallawahs squad for the 2020 Caribbean Premier League.

 

Sunil Narine

Sunil Philip Narine is a professional Trinidadian cricketer who has played for the West Indies internationally. Narine is an off-spin bowler and a left-handed batsman, making his One Day International (ODI) debut in December 2011 and his Test match debut in June 2012. He has played over 300 Twenty20 (T20) matches and has played in T20 franchise leagues around the world, including the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). As of 2021, he plays for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL and Trinbago Knight Riders in the CPL.

 

In May 2018, Narine was named as one of the ten marquee players for the first edition of the Global T20 Canada cricket tournament. In the 2018 Indian Premier League, he became the most valuable player, his second MVP award, after his debut season in 2012. In October 2018, he was named in the squad for the Dhaka Dynamites team, following the draft for the 2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League. In March 2019, Narine played in his 100th match in the IPL. In June 2019, he was selected to play for the Montreal Tigers franchise team in the 2019 Global T20 Canada tournament. In July 2020, he was named in the Trinbago Knight Riders squad for the 2020 Caribbean Premier League, and in February 2021, he played in his 100th List A match during the 2020–21 Super50 Cup.

 

Narine made his One Day International debut in December 2011, taking the wickets of Virat Kohli and then Ravichandran Ashwin to help the West Indies to a 16-run victory. Following an injury to fast bowler Kemar Roach and the conclusion of the 2012 IPL, Narine was drafted into the West Indies squad for the third and final Test against England in June 2012. In July 2012, he helped the West Indies beat New Zealand by 20 runs in their fifth and last ODI and win the current series 4–1 at Basseterre, St. Kitts. Playing only in his second Test, he was adjudged the Man of the Match after he picked eight wickets, which included his maiden five-wicket haul.

 

Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur is a talented Indian cricketer who has made a name for himself in the international arena. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Sri Lanka in 2017 and has since then been a valuable member of the Indian cricket team. Thakur became the second Indian cricketer to wear the number 10 jersey after Sachin Tendulkar, which led to some controversy on social media. He later changed his jersey number to 54. In 2018, he made his Twenty20 International (T20I) debut for India against South Africa.

 

Thakur has also played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for various teams, including Kings XI Punjab, Rising Pune Supergiants, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Kolkata Knight Riders. He was the leading wicket-taker for Chennai Super Kings in 2021 with 21 wickets during the season. In 2022, Thakur had a standout performance in the second Test match against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium, where he registered his first five-wicket haul in Test matches and also recorded the best bowling figures for an Indian bowler against South Africa.

 

Thakur has proven to be an all-rounder with both bat and ball, as demonstrated in the 2021 England tour where he made significant contributions with both bat and ball, finishing with 117 runs at 39 with the bat and claiming seven wickets at 22 with the ball. The Guardian praised his performance, stating that "the journeyman bowler who bats transformed himself into Kapil Dev, repeatedly delivering a considered counter-attack with bat and ball that permitted not a shred of self-doubt." In January 2023, Thakur shone in the ODI series against New Zealand, taking six wickets and earning the Player of the Match award in the third ODI by scoring 25 runs with the bat and taking three wickets. Overall, Thakur's performances have made him a valuable asset to the Indian cricket team and a force to be reckoned with in the international cricketing world.

 

Why you should come to Eden Gardens to watch Kolkata Knight Riders live the match of?

Kolkata Knight Riders venue

Eden is a cricket ground located in Kolkata, India, and is one of the oldest and largest cricket grounds in the world. The 66,000-seat stadium is home to popular Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knights. Watching the Kolkata Knight Riders live at Eden Gardens is a unique experience that every cricket fan must have at least once in a lifetime. In this narrative, we will explore the benefits of going to the Garden of Eden to watch the Knights of Kolkata live.

 

First of all, the atmosphere at Eden Gardens during IPL matches is very lively. Stadiums are always packed with passionate fans who come to support their teams. The sight of thousands of people cheering and waving their team colors is a sight to behold. The energy and excitement in the air is contagious, and it's hard not to be drawn to the vibe. The loud cheers, chants and drumming of the fans create an unforgettable experience that cannot be experienced while watching the game on TV.

 

Second, the food and drink that Eden offers is one of the biggest draws for many fans. The stadium offers a wide variety of culinary options, ranging from traditional Indian snacks to international fast food chains. Food is reasonably priced and of good quality. Cold drinks are a refreshing way to beat the heat, especially during Kolkata's hot summer months. Food and drink are an important part of the overall experience watching a game at Eden Gardens.

 

Eden is a historic stadium that has seen some of the greatest moments in the history of cricket. The stadium has been the venue for many iconic matches, including the 1987 World Cup Final and the 2016 World T20 Final. The stadium also has a rich history of hosting domestic cricket and many legendary players have played at the stadium. Watching a game at Eden Gardens makes you a part of cricket history, an experience every cricket fan must have.

 

Watching a game live at Eden Gardens is a great way to spend time with friends and family. Stadiums are places where people from all walks of life come together to enjoy a game. Watching games with friends and family is a great way to foster a shared passion for the sport. The atmosphere at the stadium is family friendly, and with plenty of activities for kids, it's a great place to spend an evening.

 

All in all, watching a match at Eden Gardens is an unforgettable experience every cricket fan must have. The ambience, food, history and company of friends and family make this an experience hard to replicate. Watching Kolkata Knights live at Eden is an experience that goes beyond a cricket match. For all those who love the sport, this is an experience not to be missed. If you haven't experienced it yet, be sure not to miss this opportunity.

 

Read More: IPL Ticket Tutorial: How to Book a Ticket?

 

Common Questions & Answers

  • Who is the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders?

    Shreyas Iyer is captain of Kolkata Knight Riders

  • How many games did Kolkata Knight Riders play in total?

    Kolkata Knight Riders played for 15 seasons, starting from first IPL.

  • Where is the home court of Kolkata Knight Riders?

    Their home ground is Eden Gardens

  • When is the first match of Kolkata Knight Riders?

    Their first match is against Punjab Kings on April 1