Ahead of the 17th season of the Indian Premier League, the Kolkata Knight Riders announced their retention list, retaining 13 players and releasing 12, including some big names like Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Shakib Al Hasan, and Litton Das. The Knight Riders, two-time IPL champions, opted to keep hold of a core group of players, including Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana and Venkatesh Iyer. They will also be bolstered by the return of Shreyas Iyer who missed this year’s IPL due to an injury.
With the IPL auction set for Tuesday, December 19, the Kolkata Knight Riders will need to strategize to fill the gaps in their squad and elevate their team for the upcoming tournament.
Here’s a look at three players that the franchise can target:
Pat Cummins
Despite his dull performance in previous seasons, Pat Cummins’s star power and proven talent could entice the Kolkata Knight Riders to bring him back into the fold for IPL 2023. His hefty price tag of 15.50 crores in the 2020 IPL Auction suggests his value in the league, and it’s plausible that his worth could even escalate this time.
The reason is that KKR released their entire pace bowling attack after a disappointing 2023 season has left them with just two pacers in their squad, Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana. This dire situation created an urgent need for experienced and reliable bowlers, making Pat Cummins an ideal candidate to fill the void. Cummins’s reputation as one of the world’s best bowlers, coupled with his batting prowess, makes him a compelling choice for the Knight Riders.
Cummins’s leadership credentials further enhance his value as a potential acquisition for the Knight Riders. His remarkable tenure as captain of the Australian side, culminating in the recent ODI World Cup victory, underscores his ability to inspire and lead the team to success.
Kartik Tyagi is one of the most exciting prospects in Indian Cricket
While a single fast bowler may not suffice to bolster the Knight Riders’ depleted bowling attack, the team might also consider acquiring a promising Indian talent like Kartik Tyagi. Despite his relatively young age of 23, Tyagi has already demonstrated his potential with some impressive performances in the IPL. However, injuries have unfortunately hampered his progress. Nonetheless, Tyagi possesses an enticing skill set, including pace, accuracy, and a repertoire of variations. With his youth and untapped potential, he could be a valuable long-term acquisition for the Knight Riders..
Tyagi’s impressive performances in the ongoing domestic season have undoubtedly captured the attention of several teams. The Kolkata Knight Riders should seriously consider acquiring the young pacer.
Daryl Mitchell
Daryl Mitchell has been in superb form across all three formats in recent times
With Andre Russell’s recent injury struggles and inconsistent performance, the Kolkata Knight Riders are in dire need of a reliable backup. Finding a suitable replacement for a player of Russell’s caliber is a daunting task, but New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell could be a viable option. While Daryl Mitchell may not possess the same bowling prowess as Andre Russell, his batting abilities far surpass Russell’s power-hitting prowess, making him a suitable backup option.
Daryl Mitchell’s exceptional form across all formats in recent years make him a valuable asset to any team. Having a player of Mitchell’s caliber as backup will provide immense reassurance to KKR, or any team for that matter.
