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KKR is a franchise of the Indian Premier League which was started in 2008. The leaders of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the captains who guide the team with smart strategies and motivate their players on the field. They make important decisions during the game and create a positive team vibe, all in the quest for success for the well-known purple and gold team in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
1. Saurav Ganguly
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Sourav Ganguly was the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders for a short time in 2008 and 2010. The team did not win championships under his leadership, but he brought a strong fighting spirit and connected well with Kolkata fans. Even though they missed the playoffs both times the experience of Ganguly was valuable. T20 cricket was different from his time leading India, and eventually, KKR chose other captains like Gautam Gambhir, who later brought home two IPL titles for the team.
2. Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum was the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the first IPL season in 2009. The team could have performed better and finished in sixth place. McCullum scored a memorable 158* in the first match. Even with the great performance of Brendon McCullum, KKR didn’t make it to the playoffs. Later, Sourav Ganguly became the captain in 2010. After a few leadership changes, Gautam Gambhir took over.
3. Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir was the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a long time, from 2011 to 2017. During his captaincy, KKR became successful in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was a smart captain, and the team played well under him. In 2012, he led KKR to win their first IPL title. He knew how to lead the team with a calm attitude and a good understanding of the game. The next year which was in 2014, Gambhir again led KKR to win the IPL which proved that their success was not a one-time thing. He had a talent for motivating his players and getting the best out of them.
4. Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik was the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the 2018 and 2019 seasons. In 2018, KKR did pretty well and finished third in the league standings under his leadership. However, they could not go further than the playoffs. The 2019 IPL season was another try, and Karthik and the team worked hard, but they did not make it to the playoffs that year. Even though KKR had ups and downs as captain he was always energetic and involved on the field.
5. Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan was the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain for two seasons from 2020 to 2021. Even though it was a short time, he made a big difference. His captaincy brought out the best in KKR’s T20 team. He encouraged a bold and fearless batting approach, like when they chased a massive 230 runs against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2020. Though KKR did not always win consistently, his moves with bowling and smart positioning of players often helped them. Under his leadership, the team made it to the IPL final in 2021 which showed his skill in building a strong and united team, especially during the intense tournament. Even though Morgan left in 2022, his influence on KKR is still felt.
7. Shreyash Iyer
Shreyas Iyer has just started being the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He led the team in 2022, and there is another season in 2024. In 2022, KKR did not make it to the playoffs but Iyer showed some good things. His decisions on the field, especially using the fast bowlers and spinners smartly were good. It is a bit early to judge his captaincy because he missed the 2023 season due to an injury. Now in 2024, with a new team and the experience of leading Delhi Capitals to the IPL final in 2020, Iyer has a chance to prove himself as a successful captain for KKR.
Conclusion
The captains of Kolkata Knight Riders have played a very important role in IPL, they are the reason behind the success of two trophies in the history of IPL and they have contributed an important part.
