IPL 2021 Auction KKR strategy: Kolkata Knight Riders Retained Players, Released Players List in IPL 2021 All you need to know: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be looking a major changes to their squad for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. The previous edition was a mixed bag for the two-times champions. They had to change their skipper mid-way into the tournament. To add to their woes, their star hitter Andre Russell form was in a slump. They will look to add new players and let go some, to get their hands on the shiny IPL cup for the third time.
Here’s all you need to know about KKR’s strategy in IPL 2021 mini-auctions:
KKR IPL 2020 Squad: Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik, Harry Gurney, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Nitish Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Rinku Singh, Sandeep Warrier, Shivam Mavi, Shubman Gill, Siddhesh Lad, Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Eoin Morgan, Varun Chakravarthy, Tom Banton, Rahul Tripathi, Chris Green, M Siddharth, Praveen Tambe, Nikhil Naik
Players who are certain to be retained in IPL 2021 as per InsideSport assumption:
Eoin Morgan: It is No Brainer! KKR will not let go of the world cup winning captain who almost led his team the qualifiers, despite a bad first half in IPL 2020. Furthermore, besides his captaincy, he is also an important figure in the middle order. He was the second-highest run-getter for KKR, 22 runs behind Shubman Gill.
Pat Cummins: A lead fast bowler who can bat – it is a rare combination to find but KKR still managed to get one in Pat Cummins. The World No.1 Test bowler, he is lethal with the new ball and can send the top-order packing on any given day. He had a slow start to his IPL 2020 campaign but eventually found the pace. The Australian will once again be an important weapon in KKR’s arsenal for 2021.
Shubman Gill: KKR would not want to let go of their future star, especially after his performance in IPL 2020. The only consistent performer in the Golden-Purple camp, Gill scored 440 runs in 14 games. Known for his versatility, KKR is lucky to have him, as they can experiment with their playing XI choices.
Other players who are certain to be retained: Lockie Ferguson, Nitish Rana, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Rahul Tripathi, Varun Chakravarthy, Prasidh Krishna, Shivam Mavi
Players who are likely to be retained in IPL 2021 as per InsideSport assumption:
Rinku Singh, Chris Green, Tom Banton, Sandeep Warrier, Dinesh Karthik
Players who will be definitely shown exit door in IPL 2021 as per InsideSport assumption:
Sunil Narine: If there is anyone, KKR have showed blind trust in past couple of IPL years, it is Sunil Narine. However, the all-rounder has lost the finesse he was known for. He has become more like a hit or miss type player. In 10 games he scored only 121 runs, and managed to chip only five wickets. Moreover, he was suspended for his controversial bowling action, which forced the KKR management to make changes to playing XI. All of it is enough to conclude that Narine is certain to be dropped from the side.
Andre Russell: KKR will be in a catch-22 situation, whether to let go off the big man or not. On paper, there is no better hitter than Andre Russell in IPL at the moment. However, he did not quite seem himself in IPL 2020. Although coming from a good Caribbean Premier League 2020 season, he failed to replicate the same in Indian Premier League.
In 10 games, he scored 117 runs, his lowest in past five seasons. Also, his fitness was a big concern. KKR might let him go and look for new prospects in the middle-order.