TKR want return to winning ways

TRINBAGO Knight Riders (TKR), four-time champions of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), finished at the bottom of the six-team standings last year, for the first time in the team's history.

There is no doubt that the TT franchise is loaded with talent and will be eager to make amends after the 2022 catastrophe, which saw them miss the playoffs for the first time.

With a new coach and the return of one of their hometown heroes, TKR will aim for another crown to please the fans at Brian Lara Cricket Academy and at the Queen's Park Oval.

DJ aims to make TKR fans dance again

Can the return of the champion DJ Bravo inspire another championship run for TKR in the 2023 Republic Bank CPL T20 tournament?

Bravo, who was part of four TKR teams which won the CPL crown, has returned to his home franchise after representing St Kitts & Nevis Patriots for the past two years.

There are not many cricketers more entertaining, both on and off the field, than Dwayne Bravo, from his dancing on the field after grabbing a wicket or his recordings of TKR songs over the years. When you think about TKR, the name Bravo comes to mind.

Bravo may leak runs at times as he is not afraid to bowl in the death overs. However, nobody can deny his ability to take wickets, as he is the leading wicket-taker in the history of the CPL, snatching 124 wickets in 97 matches. Bravo can also be an asset with the bat.

TKR power-hitters try to get it right

Kieron Pollard, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell can destroy any bowling attack in the world. The form of those batsmen will be key to the totals TKR post this season.

The trio could not get it right in the 2022 CPL.

Captain Pollard scored 132 runs at an average of 14.66, Russell struck 119 runs at 17.00 runs per innings and Pooran ended the tournament with 108 runs at an average of 12.00.

The good news for TKR fans is Pooran is in the form of his life.

The left-handed Pooran cracked 388 runs at an average of 64.66 in eight matches in the 2023 Major League Cricket (MLC) tournament, which ended on July 30. He struck 137 not out in the final to lead Mumbai Indians New York to the title.

In a five-match T20 series against India, Pooran ended as the player of the series, scoring over 170 runs to guide West Indies to a 3-2 series win.

Russell has also been showing form, hitting 206 runs in five matches in MLC, which included two half-centuries.

There are only a few batsmen with a more impressive CPL batting record than Pollard. The right-hander is fifth among the all-time leading run-scorers in the CPL with 2,359 runs at a healthy average of 34.18.

Hosein, Narine lead spin attack

TKR's spinners have contributed to the team's success over the years. Sunil Narine and Samuel Badree led the way for years, as the former is the second leading wicket-taker in CPL history, with 101 wickets.

Narine has not been a top wicket-taker in recent seasons, but with an economy rate of just 5.27 runs per over since the CPL began in 2013, he is a tough bowler for any batsman.

Left-arm spinner Hosein is one of the most promising spinners in the region and has become a staple on the West Indies T20 team since making his debut in 2021.

TKR fans will be hoping Hosein can stay fit this year after playing just six matches in the 2022 CPL. He showed his quality in that short time, taking nine wickets at an economy rate of 6.25.

New coach Simmons glad to be home

Former West Indies batsman Phil Simmons has had coaching stints in the CPL, but it will be his debut season coaching TKR. Simmons guided the Barbados Royals (called Barbados Tridents at the time) to the 2019 crown.

Simmons, who grew up in Arima, knows most of the players on the TKR squad, having coached West Indies for many years. He told Newsday recently he is looking forward to coaching his home franchise.

“It is great to be home. Anything to do with Trinidad...the chance came up (to coach TKR) a couple years ago, but it could not go through, so it is good to be here,” Simmons said.

TKR squad:

Kieron Pollard (captain), Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Rilee Rossouw, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Martin Guptill, Jayden Seales, Matheesha Pathirana, Mark Deyal, Chadwick Walton, Terrance Hinds, Kadeem Alleyne, Jaden Carmichael.