McCullum replaces Sourav as KKR skipper

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Brendon McCullum has reportedly replaced Sourav Ganguly as captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders for their first match in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket event in South Africa.

Knight Riders’ Australian coach John Buchanan weeks ago had made a furore by announcing his intention to have multiple captains for the Season-2 of IPL. He was strongly criticised from the Greats like Sunil Gavaskar.

The Bengal star, who led Kolkata Knight Riders in the last season though his team lost 8 of the 14 games they played, has said that as professionals he and his team-mates are entitled to fulfill their responsibilities to the team.

Meanwhile, it’s not clear whether the Knight Riders will have McCullum as the only captain for the entire season or multiple captains will be exercised.

As far as the explosive Kiwi batsman is concerned, he had given a blazing start with knock of 156 against the Bangalore Royal Challengers in the last season, which is still the highest score in a T20 match. Moreover, the team management might have taken his availability for the entire non-stop one month long tournament and hence they are hoping some of that brilliance in the second edition.

But this latest development is sure to raise eyebrows in Kolkata's cricketing circles. Knight Riders will play its first game against Hyderabad Deccan Chargers on April 19

Likely Team for the 1st match

Brendon McCullum (wk/captain), Chris Gayle, Sourav Ganguly, Cheteshwar Pujara, Debabrata Das, Moises Henriques, Laxmi Shukla, Murali Kartik, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Dinda, Ajantha Mendis.