Rating teams based on their performance in first week of IPL 2021

4. Kolkata Knight Riders – 8/10

KKR’s performance can be divided into two parts, how they played in the 40 overs of the first match coupled with 35 overs of the next match and what transpired in the last 5 overs against Mumbai Indians. KKR was clinical in all the departments and showed a great sign of winning the IPL trophy for the 3rd time. But the fact that they couldn’t chase 31 off 30 balls might still be hurting the team and their fans. 

The team looks as good as Mumbai Indians or Delhi Capitals on paper barring a couple of aspects. In fact, KKR is one step ahead into the future with how they have backed their talents. They have reaped the benefits as well with solid showings from Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, and Varun Chakravarthy, just to name a few. 

But it’s how they play against Mumbai Indians which costs them a place in the top 4 almost every year. They can’t afford to make the same mistakes this season too. KKR finished 5th in the last two seasons and they wouldn’t want to suffer another heartbreak this year as well.