IPL 2020: Kolkata Knight Riders team profile with Andre Russell the main man

The last time tournament was in the UAE, KKR were the champions

Kolkata Knight Riders' Shubman Gill is one of the most talented batsmen in India. AFP

Sunil Narine's batting as opener is as impactful as his spin bowling. AFP

Andre Russell is the most valuable T20 cricketer in the world. AFP

Tom Banton can rip any bowling apart. Getty

Dinesh Karthik has become a seasoned white-ball player. AFP

Nitish Rana offers hitting power lower down the order. AFP

Kolkata Knight Riders' Rinku Singh. AFP

Australian quick Pat Cummins offers a lot with ball and bat. AFP

Prasidh Krishna is an out-and-out quick. AFP

Sandeep Warrier, centre, offers reliability with bat and ball. AFP

Wrist spinners like Kuldeep Yadav are invaluable. AFP

Kolkata Knight Riders

Based: Abu Dhabi

Last season: Fifth

Best finish: Champions in 2012 and 2014

Coach: Brendon McCullum

Captain: Dinesh Karthik. Experienced though he is, Karthik will be under pressure to get the best out of his biggest star, Andre Russell, if KKR are going to make good on their potential. Dre Russ has been publicly critical of strategy decisions in the past.

Standings at the end of the league phase.

Key man: Andre Russell

The player of the series last year (four years after he had achieved that honour for the first time) when his power game reached unprecedented levels. The Jamaican has hit the biggest six in the history of the Dubai International Stadium to date. It fell four rows short of making it out of the ground.

Big miss: Harry Gurney

The left-arm seamer only had a brief international career with England but has become a go-to bowler in franchise cricket. He has had to miss out on a second IPL season due to a shoulder injury. Mustafizur Rahman was courted as a replacement, but Bangladesh objected to him playing.

Verdict

Head coach Brendon McCullum has only been able to oversee preparation for this tournament remotely, as he has been in Trinidad at the CPL. He will hope he can bring the winning formula with him when he makes the 12,000km journey to the capital, though. His Trinbago Knight Riders have had a long unbeaten streak in that competition.

KKR are now six years without a title, but they might have one lucky omen for this season: the last time the IPL came to the UAE, at the start of the 2014 campaign, they ended it as champions.

Fixtures

1. Match 5, Wednesday, September 23, 6pm, Abu Dhabi – Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians

2. Match 8, Saturday, September 26, 6pm, Abu Dhabi – Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad

3. Match 12, Wednesday, September 30, 6pm, Dubai – Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders

4. Match 16, Saturday, October 3, 6pm, Sharjah – Delhi Capitals v Kolkata Knight Riders

5. Match 21, Wednesday, October 7, 6pm, Abu Dhabi – Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings

6. Match 24, Saturday, October 10, 2pm, Abu Dhabi – Kings XI Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders

7. Match 28, Monday, October 12, 6pm, Sharjah – Royal Challengers Bangalore v Kolkata Knight Riders

8. Match 32, Friday, October 16, 6pm, Abu Dhabi – Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders

9. Match 35, Sunday, October 18, 2pm, Abu Dhabi – Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders

10. Match 39, Wednesday, October 21, 6pm, Abu Dhabi – Kolkata Knight Riders v Royal Challengers Bangalore

11. Match 42, Saturday, October 24, 2pm, Abu Dhabi – Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Capitals

12. Match 46, Monday, October 26, 6pm, Sharjah – Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab

13. Match 49, Thursday, October 29, 6pm, Dubai – Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders

14. Match 54, Sunday, November 1, 6pm, Dubai – Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals