IPL Betting: Why I'm supporting...the Kolkata Knight Riders

General / Alan Dudman / 17 April 2009 /

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Alan Dudman makes a case for the "King's Men" and in particular the hard-hitting and experienced batting trio of Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and Sourav Ganguly.

I like the explosive, I like the flashy and I like characters. The Kolkata Knight Riders have all those and play in gold helmets - an item I would have loved to have had during my cricketing days. This is the team for me, it was an easy choice.

There is of course no point in saying it's a star-studded team - as they all are in the IPL. The franchise is owned by The Badshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, whose vision and mission statements have all been oozing confidence. Then again I would be oozing confidence if I had just spent $75million on a team that has been dubbed 'The King's Men'.

Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Sourav Ganguly, Brad Hodge and Ishant Sharma...all names that excite and titilate, explosive and dominating, they certainly have a side containing the most powerful strikers in the shortest form of the game.

They've also got one or two hugely promising young Indian players, but we'll deal with them later.

John Buchanan is neither young, nor a promising young cricketer....well he wouldn't be, he is middle-aged and he is the coach of the Knight Riders.For those unfamiliar with the work of Buchanan, he was the man that led the Aussies to World Cup success in 2003, and always has one or two bright ideas...most of them unpopular.

Buchanan will unveil his latest for the 2009 IPL, and that is to implement the multiple captaincy idea. He'll use four skippers, who'll each be selected match-by-match, who'll then make all the normal decisions.

This theory is based on the teachings of the Chinese military genius Sun Tzu, and a book over 5,000 years old called 'The Art Of War'. I personally prefer the excellent 'The Art of Captaincy' by Mike Brearley - but whatever floats your boat. The book's message requires rapid and appropriate responses to dynamic ever-changing environments (apparently), and I am sure this is something Ganguly will be keen on!!

Someone somewhere is surely thinking Buchanan and The Apprentice? Just think, he and a wipeboard with some lovely idea showers............. a match made in heaven. Whilst I am not sure myself about the four captains bit, the players seem to be fairly happy.

Now then, on with the team. First impressions were perhaps they are a tiny bit light on the bowling front - and Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul will be missed this year. That's a shame, but the bowling didn't turn
me on, the batting did, and that's why I am supporting the Knight Riders.

An opening partnership of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum is easily the most exciting and mouth-watering prospect in cricket. Few can forget McCullum's blistering 158 last year against Bangalore - a world record for Twenty20. In four IPL games in 2008 he averaged over 60 which is
quite phenomenal, his strike-rate was even better - over 200!

Then Mr Gayle, goodness me. What a pairing. The West Indies captain is pure class when he gets going. No one hits it 'arder, and no one hits it further. It's a good old fashioned stand-and-deliver tactic, England have seen that recently, and when in the zone, Gayle is simply the most destructive batsman in the world...just ahead of McCullum! A good opening partnership at quick tempo is key to Twenty/20.

There's the brilliance of the moody Sourav Ganguly, he'll captain at one point, well one in four anyway. He may be getting on, but the Prince of Kolkata is still a force, and such a beautifully elegant player at that. He had a decent IPL last term.

Add to that Australian pairing of David Hussey and Brad Hodge, whom Buchanan described as one of the best Twenty20 cricketers in the world....and the line up is potent.

Look out for a young Indian batsman by the name of Cheteshwar Pujara. He hit 70 in a recent warm-up game, and is a young player with a big reputation. This is his IPL debut, and the 20-year-old
has been dubbed the 'new Dravid'. He's a big talent with hopes of breaking into the national team. The right-hander rattled up three triple centuries in the space of a month, and he is my one to follow.

Although the bowling could be a tad stronger, Ishant Sharma is quick, as is raw rookie Ashoke Dinda. Both have decent economy rates. Spin and all-round options are there in abundance, whilst wily left-arm spinner Murali Karthik will be best used bowling his slow looping deliveries during the end.

The keeper WP Saha is pretty handy with the bat too, but I have run over the word limit now. So enough of him.

It's an exciting team, they'll rack up big scores and will have enough in the bowling department. The captaincy thing may be an issue, but they look too exciting too ignore.

I like the explosive, I like the flashy and I like characters. The Kolkata Knight Riders have all those and play in gold helmets - an item I would have loved to have had during my cricketing days. This is the team for me, it was an easy choice.

Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum, Sourav Ganguly, Brad Hodge and Ishant Sharma...all names that excite and titilate, explosive and dominating, they certainly have a side containing the most powerful strikers in the shortest form of the game.

They've also got one or two hugely promising young Indian players, but we'll deal with them later.

John Buchanan is neither young, nor a promising young cricketer....well he wouldn't be, he is middle-aged and he is the coach of the Knight Riders.For those unfamiliar with the work of Buchanan, he was the man that led the Aussies to World Cup success in 2003, and always has one or two bright ideas...most of them unpopular.

This theory is based on the teachings of the Chinese military genius Sun Tzu, and a book over 5,000 years old called 'The Art Of War'. I personally prefer the excellent 'The Art of Captaincy' by Mike Brearley - but whatever floats your boat. The book's message requires rapid and appropriate responses
to dynamic ever-changing environments (apparently), and I am sure this is something Ganguly will be keen on!!

Now then, on with the team. First impressions were perhaps they are a tiny bit light on the bowling front - and Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul will be missed this year. That's a shame, but the bowling didn't turn me on, the batting did, and that's why I am supporting the Knight Riders.

Then Mr Gayle, goodness me. What a pairing. The West Indies captain is pure class when he gets going. No one hits it 'arder, and no one hits it further. It's a good old fashioned stand-and-deliver tactic, England have seen that recently, and when in the zone, Gayle is simply the most destructive batsman in the world...just ahead of McCullum! A good opening partnership at quick tempo is key to Twenty/20.

There's the brilliance of the moody Sourav Ganguly, he'll captain at one point, well one in four anyway. He may be getting on, but the Prince of Kolkata is still a force, and such a beautifully elegant player at that. He had a decent IPL last term.

Add to that Australian pairing of David Hussey and Brad Hodge, whom Buchanan described as one of the best Twenty20 cricketers in the world....and the line up is potent.

Look out for a young Indian batsman by the name of Cheteshwar Pujara. He hit 70 in a recent warm-up game, and is a young player with a big reputation. This is his IPL debut, and the 20-year-old has been dubbed the 'new Dravid'. He's a big talent with hopes of breaking into the national team. The right-hander rattled up three triple centuries in the space of a month, and he is my one to follow.

Although the bowling could be a tad stronger, Ishant Sharma is quick, as is raw rookie Ashoke Dinda. Both have decent economy rates. Spin and all-round options are there in abundance, whilst wily left-arm spinner Murali Karthik will be best used bowling his slow looping deliveries during the end.

The keeper WP Saha is pretty handy with the bat too, but I have run over the word limit now. So enough of him.

It's an exciting team, they'll rack up big scores and will have enough in the bowling department. The captaincy thing may be an issue, but they look too exciting too ignore.

The Kolkata Knight Riders are currently available at [8.8] to win the IPL.

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