Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta pointed out that Kolkata Knight Riders, despite a late resurgence in IPL 2026, still have some evident weaknesses in their team as they look towards the next season. The team concluded their season with a defeat against Delhi Capitals, finishing in seventh place on the points table after a challenging start where they lost their first six games.
Dasgupta noted that KKR faced difficulties early on due to player unavailability, especially in the bowling department, which affected their balance. While some key players like Rinku Singh and Ajinkya Rahane struggled initially, the team managed to bounce back later in the season. However, Dasgupta emphasized that there are clear gaps in the squad that need to be addressed before the upcoming season.
Looking ahead to the Qualifier 1 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, Dasgupta highlighted the significance of the power-play phase in determining the finalist. He emphasized the crucial battle between Gujarat Titans’ top-order batsmen and the new-ball duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood, suggesting that a strong start in the first six overs could heavily influence the outcome of the match and potentially the tournament.
