Team Kolkata’s Strategy For The IPL

Kolkata Knight Riders - 2012 IPL Champions

The Indian Premier League is not all about the battles on the field. It is a fact that we do get to see furiously exciting battles among the top stars of the game on the field at almost every match. That is what essentially constitutes the beauty of the IPL: the scope of viewing the top stars in action and the exciting contests that arise when top stars are pitted against each other. However, on field action takes second place to the battle of wits that takes place across board rooms and team dressing rooms.

Yes, team strategy and planning is what essentially brings about success in this type of format. This format requires solid planning, last minute expertise, presence of mind and seamless implementation. Franchises have already invested in building up core think tanks comprising of top coaches, support teams, analysts and managers along with CEO’s or chief heads. The functions of these members are not to be underestimated. The success of any franchise depends on the particular goals and strategies underlined for the players. Proper planning is the key to success in any team oriented sport. The IPL is no different in this regard.

When we talk of team strategy, the IPL auction immediately comes to mind. Indeed, it is the auction that sets the tone for the proceedings as far as building team strategy is concerned. As a result, all franchises go in with a set strategy and plan of action ahead of the auctions. This, after all, determines their course of action for the entire IPL season. The 2014 IPL auction as most teams went in with a pre-determined strategy that yielded almost near perfect results with regard to their choices and management of funds. However, there have been doubts and anxieties among Team Kolkata fans relating to the choice of players.

Experts have doubted some of the strategies employed by the Kolkata Knight Riders at the IPL auctions. This essentially relates to the choice of players and the astronomical sums paid for the same among other decisions. Some of these decisions are:

• The acquisition of Piyush Chawla for a huge INR 4.5 crores which is substantially more than his original base price of INR 50 lakhs 
• The retention of Yusuf Pathan for an astronomical amount when he has not been performing as well as expected over the past six seasons 
• The retention of an ageing Jacques Kallis for INR 5.50 crores when a steady all rounder like Corey Anderson could be bought
• The purchase of Robin Uthappa for INR 5 crores when another marquee player could have been bought 

Alongside, Kolkata has also faced a lot of flak for not bringing back Shami Ahmed who is the man of the moment as far as the Indian bowling contingent is concerned. They also let go off useful all rounders in Rajat Bhatia and Laxmi Ratan Shukla and a handy batsman in Manoj Tiwary. However, the bowling has been beefed up with the purchases of Morne Morkel, Umesh Yadav and R Vinay Kumar among others.

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