The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have fared pretty well in the fifth season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Despite a few defeats in their journey thus far, they have managed to stay in contention for a place in the play-offs, and, in all likelihood, will make the cut. Given the fact that they narrowly missed qualifying for the final in last year’s IPL, KKR will want to go the entire distance and prove a point this time around. But do they stand a chance of realising that dream, considering the fact that only one or two players from the squad have been performing on a consistent basis and carrying the team along until now?

Gautam Gambhir has led by example. He is currently the leading run-getter for KKR and the fourth highest run-scorer overall. In the 13 games he’s played, Gambhir has amassed 519 runs at an average of 43.25 and an extraordinary strike-rate of 145.78. His aggressive style of captaincy has revived KKR’s fortunes since last year. For a side that did not go past the league stages in the first three seasons, KKR managed to qualify for the play-offs during IPL 4, and owing to Gambhir’s heroics, are likely to qualify this time as well. However, the worrying factor for KKR is that apart from Gambhir, none of its remaining batsmen have managed to make an impact this IPL.

With 297 runs at an average of 24.75, Jacques Kallis is KKR’s second highest run-scorer. That difference in the number of runs shows how heavily KKR is dependent on its skipper Gambhir. Brendon McCullum, who has been in and out of the side this season, features third in the list of run-getters for KKR with 216 runs to his name. Following him is Manoj Tiwary with 202 runs in the tournament thus far. Moreover, Kallis, McCullum and Tiwary have strike-rates of 104.94, 108.54 and 105.75, which is nowhere close to good when compared to strike-rates of players from other teams in this tournament.

That has been the difference between KKR and other top teams in this IPL. For example, Delhi Daredevils is one side that can never be written off. They have players who can change the outcome of the match with individual brilliance. One such instance took place in the game against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) on Tuesday, where despite losing David Warner, Virender Sehwag and Ross Taylor early, DD’s middle-order batsmen ensured that their side coasted to safety. The same can be said about the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who do not have many batsmen featuring in the list of maximum run-scorers. Yet, they’ve performed as a team and always had someone who’ve put their hand up and delivered during crunch situations. Their place in the play-offs is still very tentative, but should they qualify, they will be a force to reckon with considering their past performances during pressure situations.

KKR, too, have match-winners who can single-handedly influence the outcome of a game, but the fact remains that those players haven’t performed right throughout this IPL. One such name that crops to the mind is Yusuf Pathan. Despite having been given ample chances, Yusuf has failed miserably in this tournament. A total of 117 runs in 13 matches at an average of 13.00 is uncharacteristic of an explosive middle-order batsman. Fortunately for KKR, Gambhir’s brilliant form has compensated Yusuf’s underperformance. It’s surprising that he still finds a spot in the playing eleven, especially when have players like Manvinder Bisla who’ve contributed decently during the initial stages of IPL 5.

In the KKR bowling department, Sunil Narine has been the only one who has been a consistent threat to the opposition. The fact that even the well established batsmen have failed to decipher him speaks highly of the West Indian. For someone who is currently the third highest wicket-taker, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if he tops that list by the end of this tournament. It’s quite unfortunate that a player of Shakib Al Hasan’s calibre is unable to find a place in the team, despite some good performances in the four games he played. KKR should still consider roping him in, especially since not many in the current side are doing a good job. Shakib and Narine in tandem can pose a greater challenge.

KKR still have two matches to play, one against the mighty Mumbai Indians (MI), and the other against Pune Warriors India (PWI). It’s important that they win these two to book a berth in the play-offs. However, it’s also important that the whole team begins to contribute from hereafter. Only then will KKR’s dream of triumphing in the playoffs take shape. If Gambhir fails, KKR are bound to find themselves in a tricky situation, and that is not ideal - especially in the final leg of the tournament. The rest of the batsmen will have to get their act together if they wish to post healthy totals on the board.