Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib, Mustafizur return to Dhaka
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman arrived in Dhaka from India.
They were playing Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals respectively.
A special flight, carrying Shakib and Mustafizur, landed in Dhaka at 3:30pm on Thursday. They now will have to maintain a strict 14-day quarantine in a Dhaka hotel.
The latest edition of IPL has been suspended indefinitely after the Covid-19 hit the event.
On May 3, two of Shakib’s KKR teammates tested positive for Covid-19. More players from several IPL franchises have were also found positive for the deadly virus and the authority was forced to suspend the league indefinitely.
Shakib and Mustafizur, however, were stuck in India as the Bangladesh authority imposed a ban on the flights from India to stop the transmission of the virus. The wo crickets had to wait for two days to return home.
Shakib and Mustafizur are drafted in the preliminary squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka starting on May 23.
Both of them missed the Sri Lanka tour for a two-match Test series that took place in Sri Lanka. They were on leave to take part in IPL.
Shakib Al Hasan vs Mustafizur Rahman: Who is the most successful player in IPL?
Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman are the two best cricketers in Bangladesh. Shakib has been one of the best all-rounders in the world over the past several years. In 2015, he became the first cricketer to top the ICC all-rounder rankings in all formats at the same time. On the other hand, Mustafizur Rahman stunned the cricketing world in 2015 with impressive performances against Pakistan, India, and South Africa. These two cricketers are regular participants in IPL tournaments. This article analyzes the performances of Shakib and Mustafizur in the cash-rich franchise league to identify who is the most successful player in IPL?
Shakib and Mustafiz's IPL performances based on stats
Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman have been key players for their respective teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in recent years. Mustafizur made his IPL debut in 2016 for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while Shakib made his debut in 2011 for Kolkata Knight Riders. Both players have also won IPL titles with their respective teams.
Read: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: Key ODI Records
IPL Trophy
Shakib Al Hasan has won the IPL trophy twice in his 9-year career. Shakib won the IPL trophy with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2012 and 2014 seasons. Shakib was also a part of the Sunrisers Hyderabad team that finished second in the Indian Premier League in 2018.
On the other hand, Mustafizur Rahman won the title for Sunrisers Hyderabad in his first season, in 2016. He was a member of the Hyderabad franchise in the 2017 season as well. Mustafizur also played for the Rohit Sharma's Mumbai Indians in 2018 and the Rajasthan Royals in 2021.
Batting & Bowling Record
Shakib Al Hasan Batting Performance in IPL
Match
Runs
HS
Ave
SR
100
50
6s
66
784
66*
20.63
124.84
0
2
21
Shakib Al Hasan Bowling Performance in IPL
Match
Wkts
BBM
Ave
SR
Econ
5W
CT
66
61
3/17
28.40
22.75
7.49
0
12
Mustafizur Rahman Batting Performance in IPL
Match
Runs
HS
Ave
SR
100
50
6s
31
01
01
1.00
14.28
0
0
0
Mustafizur Rahman Bowling Performance in IPL
Match
Wkts
BBM
Ave
SR
Econ
5W
CT
31
32
3/16
28.40
22.15
7.69
0
04
Sources: https://www.iplt20.com/
Shakib Al Hasan had his best IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018. In 17 matches, he scored 239 runs at a strike rate of 121.31. Shakib also took 14 wickets at an economy rate of 8.
On the other hand, Mustafizur Rahman had his best IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016. The Fizz took 17 wickets with an average of 24.76 and a 6.90 economy rate.
When comparing the figures of the two players, it can be seen that Mustafizur Rahman's contribution in bowling is relatively better than Shakib's. On the other hand, Shakib has scored some runs with the bat since he is an all-rounder. But Shakib has not been as aggressive as a T20 batsman in the Indian Premier League.
Read: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Test Series 2021: Bangladesh Team Report Card
Performance in the championship matches
Shakib Al Hasan was a crucial player for Kolkata in both the 2012 and 2014 finals. Kolkata reached the target with 3 balls to spare after chasing 200 runs in 2012 final against Kings XI Punjab. In that match, Shakib scored 12 runs off 7 balls. But it was his balling that thrived in the championship match. Shakib was the most economical (4 - 0 - 26 - 0) among the Kolkata bowlers.
Two years later, all-rounder Shakib played an important role once again in the final against Chennai in 2014. Batted first, Chennai scored 190 runs for the loss of three wickets. Shakib bowled three overs and took one wicket for 25 runs. Shakib contributed to Kolkata's victory by playing an unbeaten innings of 11 * off 7 balls after losing the wicket of Yusuf Pathan at the crucial moment.
On the other hand, in 2016, Sunrisers Hyderabad batted first and scored 208 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. In reply, Royal Challengers Bangalore only managed to score 200 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Mustafiz didn't bat in the final. He took the wicket of Shane Watson in his 4 overs spell and gave away 36 runs.
Read: BAN v SL ODI 2021: How Bangladesh Can Rank Top in ICC ODI Super League
Verdict
Shakib Al Hasan is believed to be ahead of Mustafizur Rahman in terms of having an impact on a team's success. Shakib has just two half-centuries and has yet to complete a thousand runs despite appearing in more than 50 IPL matches. He has also 61 wickets at an economy rate of 7.49. On the other hand, Mustafizur Rahman has appeared in five IPL tournaments and has taken 32 wickets in 31 matches with an economy rate of 7.69. Mustafizur was named the best emerging player in 2016 following a stellar season with Sunrisers Hyderabad. But Shakib should be regarded as the most successful player in IPL since he was outstanding for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018 and made an impact in both finals for Kolkata.
14-day quarantine must for Shakib, Mustafizur
Bangladesh cricket stars— Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman— are set to return home from India within 48 hours, and right after arriving in Dhaka, they will have to maintain a mandatory 14-day quarantine period in a government-specified institute, confirmed the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The duo were playing the Indian Premier League (IPL) which was postponed on Tuesday after some players tested positive for Covid-19. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has earlier applied to DGHS to relax quarantine for these two, but DGHS said they have no choice but to maintain a quarantine period.
Currently, there is no flight operational between India and Bangladesh. The Bangladesh authority has put international flights with India on hold aiming to avoid the risk of bringing Covid-19 infected people to Bangladesh.
Nizamuddin Chowdhury, the chief executive officer of BCB, has said Shakib and Mustafizur will have to return home with a special arrangement. He, however, didn’t specify what the special arrangement would be to bring them back home.
BCB is eager to ensure the service of these two in the upcoming three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka which will take place later in May. BCB has already announced a preliminary squad for this series which includes both Shakib and Mustafizur.
Bangladesh’s last international assignment was in Sri Lanka where they played two Tests. The first match of the series ended in a draw, the other game was won by the hosts by 209 runs.
Bangladesh returned home on Tuesday from Sri Lanka. After arriving in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s head coach Russell Domingo talked to the media. While talking about Shakib and Mustafizur, he said their inclusion is vital for Bangladesh to win the series against Sri Lanka at home.
“It’s good to have Shakib and Mustafizur back (in the team). The next series will be important as (World Cup) qualification points are up for grabs. We need to bounce back after a tough series in New Zealand,” Domingo told the media.
“It's good to be playing in the home conditions again. As I said, it's good to get experienced players like Shakib and Mustafiz back. We will be playing against a very dangerous side. So, we have to play really well to beat them,” Domingo added saying that the team will practice for three days before the Eid vacation.
Mahmudullah, Shakib and Liton set to feature in PSL
Veteran Bangladeshi allrounders Mahmudullah Riyad, Shakib Al Hasan and wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das are set to feature in the resumption of this year's chequered Pakistan Super League (PSL), a T20 league organized by Pakistan Cricket Board (BCB), as the replacement players.
These three Bangladeshi players are among the 19 overseas players who have been picked up by the PSL teams from the replacement draft. The other players are from Australia, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Right-handed allrounder Mahmudullah will represent Multan Sultans in the remainder of the PSL. He had previously played for Quetta Gladiators in this event.
Left-arm allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is recently busy playing the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders, will play for Lahore Qalandars. Shakib had previously represented Karachi Kings and Peshawar Zalmi in PSL.
Liton, on the other hand, is all set to play for Karachi Kings. It’ll be his second appearance in a foreign league. He previously played for Jamaica Tallawahs in Caribbean Premier League.
While Shakib is busy in IPL, Mahmudullah currently at home and Liton is touring Sri Lanka with the Bangladesh team to play a two-match Test series against the hosts.
There are a total of 34 matches in PSL and 15 of them have already been played. The remainder of the league will resume from June 1 and will run to June 20. All the matches will take place at the National Stadium, Karachi.
Kolkata suffers second defeat as Shakib disappoints
Kolkata Knight Riders suffered their second consecutive defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday against Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 38 runs.
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan had a bad day as well as he failed both while bowling and batting. He bowled two overs and ended up giving away 24 runs. While batting, he faced 25 balls and posted 26 runs with a four and a six.
Bengaluru won the toss and opted to bat first. They posted a big total of 204 for four wickets in 20 overs, with Glenn Maxwell scoring 78 off 49 balls with nine fours and three sixes while AB de Villiers posted an unbeaten 76 off 34 balls with nine fours and three sixes.
Also read: Shakib's KKR fail to close the deal against Mumbai
Virat Kohli, the captain of Bengaluru, was the first batsman to get dismissed scoring only five. With only nine runs on the board, Bengaluru lost their second wicket when Rajat Patidar fell prey to Varun Chakravarthy who bagged the first wicket as well.
In the third wicket stand, Devdutt Padikkal and Maxwell added 86 runs. Coming to bat at number five, de Villiers smashed a fierce innings of 76.
For Kolkata, Chakravarthy took two wickets while Pat Cummins and Prasidh Krishna took one wicket each.
Also read: Kolkata kicks off IPL with 10-run win despite Shakib’s lean show
In reply, Kolkata ended up on 166 for eight in 20 overs with Andre Russell scoring the highest runs of 31 for the team. Four of Kolkata's batsmen surpassed the 20-run mark including Shakib but failed to come up with a big innings to change the game.
For Bengaluru, Kyle Jamieson took three wickets conceding 41 runs while Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel bagged two wickets each.
Shakib's KKR fail to close the deal against Mumbai
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan bowled well for Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday when they took on Mumbai Indians in their second game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. KKR, however, lost the game due to careless batting during the last five overs of the game- and there Shakib must share in the blame. Some might say he even started it.
KKR won the toss and opted to bowl first against Mumbai who lost the first game of the season to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. KKR, on the other hand, came to his game with a win in their first game to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Andre Russell bagged five wickets for KKR conceding only 15 runs in two overs, and thus, he was the best bowler of his team while Shakib bagged one wicket conceding only 23 runs in four overs. Shakib’s economy was 5.75, the lowest for KKR’s bowlers who have bowled all four overs in this game.
For Mumbai, Suryakumar Yadav hit 56 off 36 before Shakib sent him back while Rohit Sharma posted 43 off 32 balls. Mumbai scored 152 for all wickets in 20 overs.
Also read: Kolkata kicks off IPL with 10-run win despite Shakib’s lean show
In reply, Nitish Rana and Shubham Gill posted 72 runs in the first wicket stand, and it looked like KKR will have an easy win. But the failure of the other batsmen made it tough for them.
Rahul Chahar bagged the first four wickets of Kolkata conceding 27 runs in four overs. Shakib got a promotion in the batting order, coming to bat at number five. But the left-hander failed to exploit the chance as he fell for 9 off 9 deliveries.
In the last five overs, KKR needed 30 runs with six wickets, including Shakib, Russell and Dinesh Karthik, in hand, but they failed to do it.
They lost Shakib during the 16th over while in the last over when KKR needed to score 15 to seal the game, Trent Boult removed Andre Russell, 9 off 15 balls, and Pat Cummins off two consecutive deliveries. Karthik remained unbeaten at 8 off 11 balls.
And eventually, KKR tumbled for 142 for seven in 20 overs and lost the game by 10 runs.
Kolkata kicks off IPL with 10-run win despite Shakib’s lean show
Shakib Al Hasan made a comeback to the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday with the first match of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the season against Sunresiers Hyderabad. KKR won the game by 10 runs, but Shakib’s performance was lean in the field.
The left-handed allrounder batted for five balls to score only three runs. But he started well with the ball taking a wicket off the first ball in the season removing Wriddhiman Saha. Shakib, however, failed to continue on the good run as he ended up his bowling quota conceding 34 runs in four overs.
Shakib missed the last season of IPL due to the two-year-long ban, with one year suspended, which was imposed on him by the ICC for failing to corrupt approaches made to him.
Also read: Mustafiz's Rajasthan vs Shakib's Kolkata: Which team has the best chance to win the IPL 2021?
On Sunday’s game, SRH won the toss and sent KKR to bat first. Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill added 53 runs before Gill was removed by Rashid Khan at 15 off the last ball of the seventh over.
In the second wicket stand, Rana and Rahul Tripathi added 93 runs on the board. The first three youngers laid a good foundation for KKR.
Riding on Rana’s 80, Tripathi’s 53 and Dinesh Karthik’s 9-ball 22, KKR posted a challenging total of 187 for six in 20 overs.
Also read: Shakib's 34th Birthday: 34 achievements to celebrate the no.1 all-rounder
For SRH, two Afghan spinners— Rashid Khan and Mohammad Nabi— bagged two wickets each while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and T Natarajan took one wicket each.
In reply, Manish Pandey hi an unbeaten 61 off 44 balls with two fours and three sixes while Jonny Bairstow also smashed a fifty, 55, off 40 deliveries, but SRH failed to sail through.
They needed to score 22 runs in the last over bowled by Andre Russell. Pandey and Abdul Salam only managed 11 runs despite a last-ball six by Pandey.
Also read: Shakib reaches Kolkata to play IPL
For KKR, pace-bowler Prasidh Krishna took two wickets conceding 35 runs while Shakib, Russell and Pat Cummins took one wicket each.
‘We can win in Sri Lanka even without Shakib, Mustafizur,’ says Mominul
Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque said they are confident of winning the two-match series in Sri Lanka even without the service of Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman who are busy playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals respectively.
A 21-member preliminary Test squad of Bangladesh is all set to fly to Sri Lanka on Monday for a two-match Test series against the hosts. The series will begin on April 21 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy. Both the matches will take place at the same venue.
Bangladesh’s last tour was to New Zealand where the Tigers failed to come victorious in any of six limited-over matches against the hosts. Now they are in dire need to bounce back.
Shakib and Mustafizur would have been Bangladesh’s biggest weapons in the Sri Lanka tour. But the Tigers are set to miss their service as both of them were allowed to skip this tour for IPL. Despite their absence, Mominul believes that Bangladesh has the ability to outplay Sri Lanka.
Also read: Bangladesh preliminary Test squad to fly for Sri Lanka Monday noon
“I don’t think we cannot win without Shakib and Mustafizur,” Mominul told the reporters on Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium after a practice session. “We have more players in our team. They don’t have 10-12 hands (to play better than others). We also don’t have many hands. I don’t think their absence will make any impact. We couldn’t come up as a team in recent time and that’s why we have been failing to bring the result to tour favour. This is as simple as it.”
Mominul led the Tigers in six Tests so far, and the Tigers lost in all occasions except one against Zimbabwe. The other five matches were part of the World Test Championship. The forthcoming Sri Lanka series is also a part of the same event.
Without senior players, what Bangladesh’s ODI Cricket team could look like?
There comes a time when seniors must step aside to allow the next generation to take their place. Bangladesh’s senior cricketers will likely retire in the next two to three years. Especially Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan are already considering retiring from at least one format of cricket. So from now on, the selectors will have to focus on developing cricketers who will be able to represent Bangladesh in the future. Bangladesh has had the most success in one-day international cricket. So, without senior players, what Bangladesh’s ODI Cricket team could look like? This has been discussed in this article.
How Bangladesh’s ODI playing XI could shape up without their senior players
Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiq, and Mahmudullah have been playing together for more than a decade. Together they have won many matches for Bangladesh and as a result, these cricketers have witnessed many historic victories of Bangladesh. One thing is certain: the BCB has yet to come up with a better alternative for seniors. This is a failure on the part of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and cricketers must take some of the blame as they are not able to take full advantage of the opportunity they are getting. Let's take a look at the future Bangladesh ODI XI.
Read Mustafiz's Rajasthan vs Shakib's Kolkata: Which team has the best chance to win the IPL 2021?
Batting/Top order
Liton Das
ODI Match: 42 | Runs: 1,115 | HS: 176 | Ave: 29.61 | SR: 91.66 | 100s: 03
Liton Das has been the regular opener of the Bangladesh team for the last two years.
He has cemented his place in the national team after some stellar performances in the international arena. Liton has the highest individual ODI innings for Bangladesh. He achieved that feat against Zimbabwe in 2020 with 176 runs. Though he lacks consistency, at the moment there is no alternative for opener Liton.
Read Mashrafe Mortaza drops a bombshell over his alleged T20 retirement in 2017
Mohammad Naim
ODI Match: 01 | Runs: .. | HS: .. | Ave: .. | SR: .. | 100s: ..
Mohammad Naim will be the prime contender to replace Tamim Iqbal when he retires.
The tall left-handed opener has already established himself as a regular starter in T20 competitions. However, he was not given another opportunity after playing a washed out ODI match against Zimbabwe last year. If given the opportunity, Mohammad Naim has the ability to be a productive opener.
Read How to Become a Cricketer in Bangladesh: An Overall Guideline.
Soumya Sarkar
ODI Match: 61 | Runs: 1,768 | HS: 127* | Ave: 32.14 | SR: 97.35 | 100s: 02
Soumya started his international career with high expectations. But despite getting countless opportunities, he has failed to establish himself as a reliable batsman in the team. Soumya also has a tendency to keep failing after a couple of successful innings. However, his position in the Bangladesh team is secure until the pipeline is solid.
Read Bangladesh's five most memorable overseas ODI wins
Batting/Middle and lower-middle order
Mohammad Mithun
ODI Match: 30 | Runs: 663 | HS: 73* | Ave: 30.13 | SR: 78.83 | 100s: 0
Mohammad Mithun made his international debut in 2014, but he was out of the Bangladesh team for some time. However, in 2018, the right-handed middle-order batsman reclaimed his place on the national side. Mithun will be able to play for Bangladesh for at least another 5-6 years if he can maintain his form.
Read Top Online Shops to Find Sports Equipment in Bangladesh
Afif Hossain
ODI Match: 01 | Runs: 07 | HS: 07 | Ave: 7.00 | SR: 175.00 | 100s: 0
The selectors have high expectations from young Afif Hossain. He is already being considered as an alternative to Shakib Al Hasan. Afif Hossain is a powerful batsman who is also an effective spinner. He is the kind of player who likes to take responsibility. There is no doubt that Afif will become an essential member of the Bangladesh team in the future.
Read Memorable Match Winning Knocks in Tests
Mosaddek Hossain
ODI Match: 35 | Runs: 549 | HS: 52* | Wkts: 14 | BBI: 3/13
All-rounder Mosaddek Hossain is an aggressive-minded middle-order batsman. He is also equally adept at picking up wickets at crucial moments. Mosaddek Hossain's competitive nature makes him a valuable player in limited-overs cricket. Mahmudullah will be replaced by Mosaddek after retirement.
Read The Best ODI Batsmen of the 21st Century.
Mahedi Hasan
ODI Match: 03 | Runs: 24 | HS: 14 | Wkts: 02 | BBI: 2/42
Mahedi Hasan made his international debut in the away series against New Zealand. Aggressive Mahedi is equally good at batting and bowling. When he failed to score with the bat, he makes it up by picking wickets. In the future, Afif, Mosaddek, and Mahedi could become a lethal middle order for Bangladesh.
Read New Zealand Series will define Tamim’s captaincy
Mohammad Saifuddin
ODI Match: 24 | Runs: 302 | HS: 51* | Wkts: 34 | BBI: 4/41
Pace all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin has been dubbed the team's new Mashrafe. Saifuddin is a very good bowler in the death overs. In addition, Saifuddin can become lethal with the bat when the team needs him. In the international arena, he has already proven his worth by playing some notable innings.
Read Bangladesh vs New Zealand T20I Series 2021: Report Card of Bangladeshi players
Bowling
Taskin Ahmed
ODI Match: 36 | Wkts: 48 | BBI: 5/28 | Ave: 32.81 | Econ: 5.88 | 5W: 01
Taskin Ahmed returned to the international circuit last January after missing two years due to injury. Taskin is committed to keeping his place on the squad. If he continues to perform, he will be able to play for Bangladesh for at least another 6/7 years.
Read Shakib's 34th Birthday: 34 achievements to celebrate the no.1 all-rounder
Mustafizur Rahman
ODI Match: 64 | Wkts: 118 | BBI: 6/43 | Ave: 23.27 | Econ: 5.24 | 5W: 05
Cutter master Mustafizur Rahman is leading Bangladesh's pace attack. Mustafiz had been rhythmless for a few years, but now he's hinting at recapturing his lost form. He can easily play for Bangladesh's national side for another decade. Mustafiz has the potential to break many records at the end of his retirement.
Read Key T20I Records between Bangladesh and New Zealand
Rubel Hossain
ODI Match: 104 | Wkts: 129 | BBI: 6/26 | Ave: 34.31 | Econ: 5.67 | 5W: 01
Rubel Hossain is one of the most successful pace bowlers in ODI format for Bangladesh. He played important roles in many historic victories of Bangladesh. Rubel is likely to play at least two more ICC World Cups for Bangladesh. But in that case, he'll have to work hard to stay in shape.
Read Who can replace Shakib Al Hasan in Bangladesh Cricket Team?
Bottom Line
An XI for the One-Day International has been formed based on the current Bangladesh squad, which gives us an idea of what Bangladesh's ODI cricket team could look like without the senior players? Finding Shakib, Tamim, or Mushfiqur alternatives is a difficult task. However, Bangladesh has no shortage of talented cricketers. If properly nurtured, a good number of high-quality cricketers will develop in the future.
According to ODI captain Tamim, there will be no big changes in the Bangladesh ODI squad before the 2023 World Cup. In that case, a significant number of players who won the Youth World Cup 2020 will be regularly seen in the Bangladesh squad after the ICC 2023 World Cup. Many people believe that with the guidance of those youngsters, Bangladesh will win the first ICC Cricket World Cup.
Read Bangladesh Cricket’s Next Generation Superstars: Potential Youngsters Who Could Lead the National Team
Mustafiz's Rajasthan vs Shakib's Kolkata: Which team has the best chance to win the IPL 2021?
The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League will begin on Friday (April 9) and the championship match of this tournament will be held on May 30 at Ahmedabad's Motera Stadium. This year's tournament will feature a total of 8 teams and will be held in six different venues. Last season, no Bangladeshi cricketer participated in the IPL, but this year's edition will feature Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman. Shakib will represent Kolkata Knight Riders, while Mustafizur will play for Rajasthan Royals for the first time. Let's see which team has the best chance to win the IPL 2021?
Rajasthan vs Kolkata: Who has the upper hand in terms of team strength?
It's important to have an understanding of the squad when assessing title contenders. Let's take a look at both squads and examine their overall strength.
Batting
Rajasthan Royals
David Miller, Liam Livingstone, and Jos Butler are the three destructive overseas batsmen for Rajasthan Royals. The only two prominent Indian batsmen in Rajasthan's squad are Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal. They'll have to play with more responsibility since there aren't many alternatives in the Rajasthan squad. On the other side, Kolkata have a slight advantage in terms of batting ability.
Also read; Mustafizur gets BCB nod to play in IPL
Kolkata Knight Riders
In the batting department, Kolkata have England captain Eoin Morgan and New Zealand wicket-keeper Tim Seifert in the foreign quota. These two are very effective batsmen in limited-overs cricket. Besides, Morgan is also one of the best captains in the world right now. Among the Indians, Kolkata have well-known batsmen like Rahul Tripathi, Karan Nair, Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill, and veteran Dinesh Karthik. Overall, the Kolkata squad has some reliable top and middle-order batsmen.
Read How to Become a Cricketer in Bangladesh: An Overall Guideline.
Which team is stronger in batting?
Kolkata Knight Riders
Bowling
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals are considered to have the worst spin attack in this year's IPL as Mayank Markande and K. C. Cariappa are the only two young spinners for the Royals. They do, however, have a potent pace attack led by Bangladeshi left-arm medium-fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, Andrew Tye of Australia, Jofra Archer of England, and local lad Jaydev Unadkat. If Cutter Master Mustafiz gets into his rhythm in the tournament, he could be a trump card for Rajasthan. Bangladesh cricket fans are eagerly waiting to see Mustafiz's bowling prowess in the IPL.
Read Bangladesh's five most memorable overseas ODI wins
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata have formed their pace attack with the inclusion of Australia's Pat Cummins, New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson, and India's Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Considering India's spin-friendly pitches, Kolkata have included four world-class spinners. They are Sunil Narayan, Varun Chakraborty, Kuldeep Yadav, and veteran Harbhajan Singh. Kolkata have arguably the best spin attack in the tournament.
Read Mashrafe Mortaza drops a bombshell over his alleged T20 retirement in 2017
Which team is stronger in bowling?
Kolkata Knight Riders
All-Rounder
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals includes England's best player Ben Stokes. This marquee all-rounder can become a nightmare to opposition teams. Rajasthan Royals have also included solid performers like Chris Morris, Rahul Tewatia, and Shivam Dube in the squad. Chris Morris is currently one of the best all-rounders in the T20 format. Morris is an all-rounder on par with England's Ben Stokes. Rajasthan will undoubtedly need these two players to perform consistently if they are to progress to the IPL 2021 playoffs.
Read Memorable Match Winning Knocks in Tests
Kolkata Knight Riders
In the all-rounder category, Kolkata Knight Riders have included India's Shivam Mavi, Australia's Ben Cutting, Windies Power Hitter Andre Russell, and world no.1 Shakib Al Hasan. Among them, Andre Russell was Kolkata's best player in the last three seasons. So the Knight Riders will have a lot of expectations from him. On the other hand, Shakib will try to achieve success and showcase his true potential in this year's IPL. Shakib has an amazing ability to shine when the team needs him the most. Kolkata haven't won an IPL trophy after 2014, therefore Shakib and Russell will have to take on a lot more responsibility to reclaim the title for the knight riders.
Which team is stronger in the all-rounder category?
Both teams are equally strong
Read Shakib's 34th Birthday: 34 achievements to celebrate the no.1 all-rounder
Bottom Line
In terms of team strength, the Kolkata Knight Riders are slightly ahead of the Rajasthan Royals. As a result, Shakib Al Hasan's Kolkata are one of the hot favorites to win the 14th edition of the IPL. According to statistics, teams' probabilities of reaching the IPL play-off round increase if they can retain consistency in the middle of the tournament. In that case, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals would want to finish the league stage in top form. So, by the middle of the tournament, it will be clear which team has the best chance to win the IPL 2021? However, Bangladesh cricket supporters will cheer for both teams.
Read How Can Bangladesh directly qualify for the world cup 2023?