Trinbago Knight Riders are the most successful team in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history having won three titles so far. Not only that, they are also one of the only two teams to reach the playoffs every season. They have a strong squad of 17 players this time as well and look like one of the title contenders on paper once again.
Claim to fame: Champions (2015, 2017, 2018)
Coach: Brendon McCullum
Captain: Kieron Pollard
Trinbago Knight Riders Squad for CPL 2020:
Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Khary Pierre, Amir Jangoo, Tion Webster, Akeal Hosein, M Ali Khan (ICC Americas pick), Fawad Ahmed, Tim Seifert, Jayden Seales, Sikandar Raza, Pravin Tambe, Anderson Phillip
Probable Playing XI:Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert, Darren Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sikandar Raza, Dwayne Bravo, Khary Pierre, Fawad Ahmed, M Ali Khan/Jayden Seales
Strengths
A strong batting core
The likes of Lendl Simmons, Colin Munro, Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo are proven performers with immense experience under their belt. In fact, Simmons and Pollard were two of the top five run scorers in the CPL last season.
Even though Munro had a sub-par outing last year, 1546 runs at an overall CPL average of 40.68, and a strike-rate of 137.91, prove how dangerous he could be. Kiwi Wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert adds flexibility to the lineup as he can float anywhere in the top five whereas Darren Bravo is the insurance they require in their middle-order in case of a top-order collapse.
Highly Experienced All-rounders
Their all-rounders are probably some of the best players in the league as well. Sunil Narine will not only be the leader of their bowling attack but will also shoulder the responsibility of getting the team off to quick starts with the bat at the top of the order. Dwayne Bravo will be their main pacer shouldering the responsibility of bowling in the death and he can do the damage with the bat lower down the order as well.
There are Kieron Pollard and Sikandar Raza too, who will not only bat in the lower middle-order but will provide a much needed sixth bowling option as well.
A decent spin attack
As far as the spin department is considered, new recruit Fawad Ahmed and local talent Khary Pierre will be quite effective with their Right-arm leg break and slow left-arm orthodox bowling types as well. Both of them picked up 10 wickets each last season at mean economy rates of 6.41 and 7.15 respectively. Pravin Tambe will probably be the backup option. He is a proven performer in the IPL and will come in quite handy if his services are required.
Weakness:
Inexperienced Pace Attack
While Dwayne Bravo is certainly a name to watch out for in their pace bowling department, the other options don’t inspire much confidence. Muhammad Ali Khan played majority of the games last season for Trinbago and he managed only 10 wickets at a high average of 31.30. Due to the new Emerging Players rule, which enforces teams to give youngsters a minimum of five games in the season for them to be eligible for the award, Ali Khan might have to sit some games out as well in this season. All eyes will be on the young Caribbean pacer, Jayden Seales, who would replace Ali Khan for those games mostly. However, he is highly inexperienced as well and could cost Trinbago big in the death overs.
Expected Result in CPL 2020
Trinbago Knight Riders can be expected to go through to the playoffs once again considering the squad they have. And, if the other bowlers can help their inexperienced pace-attack get away, they can even go on to win the title.