Five Players KKR Would Want To Retain in 2018

May 24, 2017 at 9:38 AM

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Five Players KKR Would Want To Retain in 2018

In 2018 Indian Premier League, all players will be sent to auction pool for the 11th edition of IPL. However, Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Daredevils, and Sunrisers Hyderabad are in favour of retaining key players, which permits team owners to retain players by matching their auction price.

The month-long cricket extravaganza gets over with Mumbai Indians emerging as the champions of the tenth edition. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders who defeated the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator bowed out of the tournament after they were beaten quite comprehensively by Mumbai Indians in the Qualifier 2. They were leading the league points table after 9 matches and it was their lacklustre performance in the last 5 matches which didn’t allow them to finish at the top 2 position. They had some performances to boast off in this season like Narine and Lynn. Most players will go into the IPL auction next season, but teams may be allowed to retain a few key performers, like in 2011 and 2014. Kolkata Knight Riders retained just Gautam Gambhir and Sunil Narine in 2014.

There are a lot of players in the team who have been associated for long and the team might look to release them or retain them. With likely only 5 players that they can hold back, it’s gonna be a tricky decision by the franchise to make a call next year in the cash-rich league.

Let’s have a look at the players they can retain in 2018:

Sunil Narine: The West Indian, who was bought by the Knight Riders ahead of the 2012 season, made an immediate impact for the franchise, taking 24 wickets during the course and leading them to their maiden IPL title after four missed opportunities.

Since then, Narine became an integral member of the Knight Riders’ squad, backed by them even when he struggled in the initial stages, following a remodelled bowling action.

That trust shown by the franchise seems to have been repaid this year as the Trinidadian has not just delivered with the ball, but also with the bat. 224 runs with the bat, predominantly as an opener. Always giving the team a quickfire start in crucial games. This year his bowling has been unimpressive but he bagged 10 wickets in 16 games but his economy rate was still below 7. With his new found role in the team as a batsman cum an economical bowler, KKR would look to have this man in top form if they rethink of retaining.

Chris Lynn: Lynntastic – That’s how they describe him or a new word for a great adjective to describe destructive batting ploy! The Australian right-hander was part of the Knight Riders setup when they won the League both in 2012 and 2014. But he was not much in view with a purple jersey on only for some fielding when once he showed great acrobatic skills, But 2017 has been the year of this man in purple. He got a chance to open and he utilised it.

Right from the opening game, he proved those believers right when he smashed a 41-ball 93 not out to set the tone of the competition.

After suffering a shoulder injury midway through the season, Lynn returned to the side and was back to his elements, smashing the bowlers to all parts of the ground before eventually he and his side bowed out in the Qualifier stage of the competition. Though he only played 7 matches in the season, Lynn smashed 295 runs at an impressive average of close to 50 and an average of 180.

Often in the past, we have seen teams with an attacking option at the top succeed and KKR would definitely think of retaining this beast.

Kuldeep Yadav: The left-arm chinaman may not have had a great season with the ball, but surely is an investment for the future. The 21-year-old is thought to be the next big thing as far as spin bowling is concerned in the Indian cricket and will look to perform as per those expectations in the coming games. Chinaman bowlers are an exception in India and a talent breeding like young Kuldeep should be an asset for any team. The key aspect for him would be to develop certain variations in his game and that would mean that his mystery element would be kept intact for a longer duration. Kuldeep might be a pivotal option for KKR in future.He has been a part of the KKR set up for the last 2 to 3 years but it was the first season where he got enough matches for the franchise. Given a chance he can work wonders and who wouldn’t love to keep the only chinaman bowler in their team for coming season.

Manish Pandey:  The consistency in the middle order can’t be described better without this man.

The Karnataka right-hander has been one of the most reliable players for the franchise ever since he was picked by them in 2014. He played a key role for them when they won the title that year, scoring a match-winning 95 in the final to help them chase a stiff total down.

He finished the 2017 season with a tally of 396 runs in 14 matches at an average of 49 and a strike-rate of 128 and he could provide them with similar such consistency if given another opportunity in the middle-order next year. With such cool composure and nerves of steel, he was also included in the Indian squad for champions Trophy but unlikely will miss due to injury issues -but his deeds have snatched eye of selectors to be a perfect Indian middleman in coming years.KKR franchise might also think of retaining this man.

Gautam Gambhir: What could be the reason not to retain this man who had been the ultimate man behind KKR’s success all these years? Gautam Gambhir may have played for Delhi all his life, but starting 2011, there is no doubting that he became as much a Kolkatan as much a Delhite in the cricketing circles. The left-hander has been pivotal to the side’s success ever since he took over as captain in 2011 and has transformed a franchise who seemed to head nowhere to a side that has become among the more consistent teams in the history of the competition. He has awesome captaincy records to add to his worth. He also looked in touch in this season and finished with 498 runs in 16 matches with a mighty impressive average and strike rate.Even in the eliminator clash when the team was under pressure and tottering at 12/3 it was a captain’s knock by Gambhir which ensured KKR chased the total of 48 down in the final over to reach the Qualifier 2. Gambhir’s leadership skills in these years have earned him applause from several quarters and the Knight Riders will look to keep him with them, going into next year.

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