By Rajat Subhra Chatterjee
0094
First thing first. I am no die hard KKR – make no mistake.
I have no emotional bondage with KKR either. While Prince of Kolkata was at the helm, I might have watched KKR play on field a couple of occasion but beyond that, I have no connect with KKR. That hardly matters to KKR, as I am no body like they think of millions of Kolkattans. As I love to watch cricket and I do, yet, my heart has never bled for horrendous decision making by KKR think tank, neither have I ever lost any sleep for humiliating performances dished out by KKR.
However, purely from cricketing point of view, I am tempted to place few of my observations which connects KKR and its running and will try to elaborate how abysmally KKR is run by couple of non cricketing dis-functionaries, much to the wrath of KKR fans in large. KKR since its birth in 2008 became a way of life for Kolkata. A theme for the people living in this city. A dream which has disturbed many and satisfied few egos. Yet, KKR, knowingly, has not contributed at all for cricket in Bengal in particular and any welfare of Bengal in general.
Except for KKR and LSG, all other teams in IPL are owned by ‘sons of the soil’ sort of people. There is a little twist. The LSG owner, apart from being a very successful respectable business person, is a hard core sports lover and genuinely attempts to get emotionally involved in the sports he heads. For Mohun Bagan he has been seen very emotionally attached on occasion, as well as LSG. Because of his emotional attachment, he may have overstepped at some point in dealing with his players but to him, team’s success comes first, individual second.
Consequently, the KKR prime owner, known for his ‘ never say die ’ attitude in any field of activities and hates being defeated in life as well, and an emotional person too but seems more keen on his business front, sacrificing to a large extent the cricketing interests of KKR which is part of the business company. He has preferred to leave KKR at the hands of few who are as inept and confused as the jokers roam around in a circus. This has led to utter mis- handling of Team KKR for which end results have not been rosy except on few occasion. High success rate in IPL may not be grabbed, as many teams are yet to win the trophy , but they have kept the process right. Here, KKR think –tank erred in keeping the process in place.
KKR needs innovative push from its distinguished owner who never played to be second. Need of the hour is a strong leader in back room as well as in front. KKR has suffered more from the back room maneuvering rather than handling upfront. Things mattered mostly from the back room as gathered – from playing XI selection to change in batting order. The coach and mentors had to carry out orders, it is believed.
Pandit and Bravo will have to go possibly as neither of them could contribute enough towards KKR Team performances. Sacking is easy job on earth. But what about the replacement ? How could have Ramandeep ( 47 from 11 matches ) and Angkrish been sent ahead of Rinku and Russell against LSG when chasing 239-run became a possibility ? At the end, KKR was just a hit away from victory proving that it was not a mistake . But a monumental blunder.
There were several other lapses with the batting order. With the team composition. All have been inexplicable decision making.
Why was the ‘happy-go-lucky’ Bravo recruited as the Team Mentor ? He was a very useful all rounder in IPL as a player. Fine. Why was Phil Salt and Mitchell Starc were not retained ? How a spent force Quinton de Kock was taken at the cost of Phil Salt? It has been unfathomable how Venkatesh Iyer was given unimaginative high salary when Shreyas could easily be retained at his demanded amount. ( reportedly he asked for 20 cr) .
There seem to have no scouting skill or attempt by KKR over the years. A team named after the city Kolkata has astonishingly not ventured to find out raw talent inside Bengal remote places and bring them to the fore !! If one looks at other IPL teams, one will find plenty of local talents pitch forked into main arena by these scouting teams. And most have performed reasonably well to begin with. With support and mental stability, these players are expected to form the local backbones of those teams. Alas, there is not a single instance like this in KKR.
The local young pacer Judhajit Guha is a regular India under-19 and is touring England shortly. Even he has not been deemed fit by KKR management to allow him to bowl at KKR nets.
Luvnith Sisodia the swashbuckling wicket keeper-batsman from Karnataka is with KKR in 2025 season, but he was even not given a chance in the very last and most inconsequential match to taste IPL ! The youngster remained benched in all 14 matches. When Gurbaz and D’Cock were failing, this youngster could have been given a chance which would have enabled KKR to field an additional Indian bowler instead. Mr. Abhishek Nayar will you answer please ? In Mumbai, a Bengalee boy of 17 years, Abhigyan Kundu, is currently the Vice Captain of India under-19 team and has to his credit plenty of runs and hundreds, yet KKR failed to rope in him to its fold because the scout team under Nayar has no interests to have a look in at fresh talents. If sacking is to start, it must be with Abhishek Nayar. Do you call these advanced thinking ?
Head must roll. Right from the back room. Well, if a strong character like Ravi Shastri is brought in whatever capacity – Mentor / Coach, then those in back room will find it very tough to poke their heads in team affair. But million dollar question is – will a man like Ravi be allowed to be brought in even by the All Mighty owner of KKR?
Lets wait and see .
concluded
