Kolkata: Two time champions Kolkata Knight Riders has been the most consistent teams in the history of Indian Premier League after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. But surprisingly the Shah Rukh Khan owned franchise has released most of the players they bought last season. The Knight Riders has released 9 players in all.
The Knights were dealt a huge blow due to the absence of Andre Russell. The Jamaican is serving a ban imposed on him by the ICC due to an anti-doping code violation. Another retained player Shakib al Hasan will miss the first part of the tournament as he will be touring with the national team to Sri Lanka.
The Bangladeshi all-rounder can only join the Knight Riders after April 08.
Both Russell and Shakib played an integral part in the Knight Riders success over the past. The other two retained players are Sunil Narine and Chris Lynn.
The Knight Riders management will have a lot of calculation to make going into the auction. The Kolkata franchise has a purse of 19.75 crore to spend. Captain Gautam Gambhir is expected to be on the auction table along with co-owner Jay Mehta, assistant coach Simon Katich, bowling Coach Laxmipathy Balaji and video analyst A Srikant. Coach Jaques Kallis will be unable to attend the auction along with principal owner Shah Rukh Khan.
The main concern for the Knight Riders will be the pace attack with only India pacer Umesh Yadav retained by the franchise. With Morne Morkel released by the Kolkata based franchise, and Russell missing the tournament, KKR will look to pick a bowling all-rounder and a foreign fast bowler.
England all-rounder Ben Stokes, South African Kagiso Rabada along with England T20 specialist bowler Tymal Mills will be targeted by the franchise. Sri Lankan Asela Gunaratne, who struck a match winning knock of 84 off only 46 balls to win his country the T20 series Down Under may also keep the franchise interested. Gunaratne, apart from a hard hitting middle order batsman can also bowl occasional medium pace.
With Stokes being the hot pick for most franchises, Knights also have a plan B if they miss out on the English all-rounder. Corey Anderson, Irfan Pathan and David Weise may fill up the all-rounder’s slot left vacant by Russell.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Look at a glance before the auction
Purse spent – 46.25 crore
Purse remaining – 19.75 crore
Total Players in the squad – 14
Overseas Players in the squad – 3