S N Rao
Kolkata Knight Riders was announced by Shahrukh Khan on the 11th March 2008 in Kolkata. The launch was extravagant in a truly bollywood style. The team’s official song Korbo, Lorbo, Jitbo’ was an encouraging chart topper and became a slogan for the team.
Looking at the chart for that day we find that Mercury, Venus and Sun is together with Rahu in Aquarius. Rahu symbolizes confusion. Sun is the planet which depicts the owner’s. Mercury and Sun will show the administration of the team. The chart clearly shows the confusion and chaos in the administration of the team. Mars the Planet which relates to cricket team and its players is in Gemini and aspects Capricorn, the 12th position from the sun. This clearly shows that the team is not able to perform to its potential.
Even though they began with a bang in the opening match of the IPL where Brendon McCullum scored 158 runs (It is the record for the highest runs ever scored by a batsman in a Twenty-20 match in the IPL so far) they could not maintain the momentum in the remaining matches. The team started failing and lost in consecutive four matches. Some good individual performances by Sourav Ganguly and Shoaib Akhtar meant that they won some matches. They even had the dubious distinction of scoring the lowest score by a team in IPL 2008, in which they were bowled out for 67 runs against Mumbai Indians.
The chart shows that the Team will be in the news more for its administration and other off screen activities than cricket. The luck factor which is so necessary to win crucial matches somehow seems to be missing in this chart. This was apparent when the team lost crucial matches and also lost matches due to weather interruptions in the 1st edition. These losses meant that they were not qualified for the Semi finals.
In the Chart Jupiter happens to occupy Sagittarius which means that financially they will be very successful. This is apparent with new marketing strategies for promotion of cricketing gears, cd’s sponsorships, advertisements etc. They were easily the most successful franchise in the IPL in terms of profits earned.
Right from the beginning of the 1st edition the Kolkata Knight Riders has been in the news more for their administration and its related matters rather than cricket. In the 1st edition two players were sent midway back home on the basis of their poor performances. The off screen reports of rift between Shahrukh Khan and Sourav Ganguly was apparently visible when he was removed from captaincy in the 11th hour and replaced by Brendum McCullum in the IPL 2nd edition. The Coach John Buchanan and his rift with Ganguly was also visible for every one. His multiple captains theory was floated to replace Sourav Ganguly. In fact their coaches, owners and support staff were in the news more for their speculations, rifts and strategy disclosure, racism etc.
It was no wonder that due to all these off screen happening’s the team finished at the last spot in the 2nd edition of IPL.
This year also the Team is already beginning to make news from it’s off screen activities. Shahrukh Khan’s recent comments and his differences with political parties had already made news and known to everyone. The recent tie up / break up with a sponsor is already making new headlines. Sourav Ganguly is back as Captain and all hopes for bringing glory to the team rests with him.
As regards to the performance of the team in IPL 3rd edition we find that Mars seems to weakly support the team. Sourav Ganguly has retired and has been forgotten by many. But looking at his chart we find that he has an uncanny knack of hitting back especially when the chips are down. His time is good and can still show that a lot of cricket is still left in him. His leadership skills are very good and therefore can bring stability to the team.
Apart from him, Chris Gayle and Brendum McCullum will have to take the batting onus on themselves. Owais Shah, Brad hodge, Angelo Mathews will have to lend stability in the Middle order. The Bowling mainstays will be Ajantha Mendis, Ishant Sharma and Charl Langeveldt. Rohan Gavaskar & Cheteshwar Pujara will get their chances to prove their ability for the 1st time in this IPL. Will their inclusion bring luck and respectability to the team?
Overall the 3rd edition of IPL will prove to be better than the 2nd edition and definitely you can expect a few surprises from them this year.