KKR have a big chance of roping in at least two out of these four players at the auction. The players will be on the wishlist of almost all the franchises given they make up multiple facets of the game. With Dhawan and Warner, KKR will have captaincy material along with two proven openers. In case they manage to buy De Kock and Lynn, there two KKR will have a wicketkeeper and another option for the opening slot. Lynn has led Brisbane Heat in the BBL and De Kock has led South Africa across formats as well. Thus these four players give KKR an option to cover most bases.
Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer can be KKR’s perfect players in the middle-order. Both are different players from each other. While Kishan is flamboyant and stylish, Iyer is the more traditional player. He can anchor the innings and give the finishing kick in the final overs as well. There were multiple reports that KKR is looking to buy Iyer and make him the captain potentially. With enough money in their purse, they can look to buy the former Delhi Capitals skipper. Kishan gives KKR another keeping option alongside De Kock.
Rebuilding the pace-bowling group will be one of KKR’s key focus at the auctions. They had to let go of all their fast bowlers due to the strict retention rules. They have an array of reputed national and international pacers to choose from. Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Shami are all the best of the modern pacers who are playing the game.
Ferguson was a part of the KKR outfit from IPL 2018 to 2021. In the limited opportunities that he got, delivered consistently for the side. Rabada and Boult are the other options in the mix along with Pat Cummins who was released by KKR as well.
Kolkata Knight Riders have always been a side that has favoured spinners over pacers in the line-up. They have two good spinners in Narine and Chakravarthy. To add to that, they can choose from the likes of Ashwin, Shreyas Gopal and Chahal who was released by RCB despite being the highest wicket-taker for the side. That all these are Indian spinners help their cause in terms of availability.
In case they look to add another all-rounder Ben Cutting is the best option. He can be an ideal backup for Andre Russell given that he is injury-prone. Cutting is a regular in the BBL and has enough cricket left in him to serve KKR for at least another five years in the IPL.
