IPL 2020: Kolkata Knight Riders team profile - KKR Full squad, KKR players to watch out for
IPL 2020: KKR shelved out a whopping 15.5 crores – the most for an overseas player in the history of IPL - to get Australian all-rounder Pat Cummins.
After winning four of their first five matches, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lost six matches in a row in IPL 2019 to dramatically drift away from the IPL playoff race. They finished at No.5 with six wins in 8 matches. KKR have won the title in 2012 and 2014 but for the past three seasons, they have not managed to reach the final.
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KKR shelved out a whopping 15.5 crores – the most for an overseas player in the history of IPL - to get Australian all-rounder Pat Cummins. They also got in England’s captain Eoin Morgan and rising young wicket-keeper batsman Tom Banton in their squad to strengthen their top-order.
The Kolkata-based franchise took some tough decisions by letting go of old warhorses like Robin Uthappa, Chris Lynn, and Piyush Chawla. But KKR also showed immense faith in young pacers Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti who did not play a single game in the last edition because of injury.
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The likes of Shubman Gill will be one of their key weapons along with captain Dinesh Karthik, who will lead the team for the third season in a row.
KKR also have a new support staff with Brendon McCullum returning to the franchise but this time as the head coach.
KKR Squad: Shubman Gill, Siddesh Lad, Andre Russell, Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Sunil Narine, Kuldeep Yadav, Harry Gurney, Lockie Ferguson, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrier, Pat Cummins, Eoin Morgan, Varun Chakravarthy, Tom Banton, Rahul Tripathi, Pravin Tambe, M Siddharth, Chris Green, Nikhil Naik
Three Indian players to watch out for
Dinesh Karthik
Karthik may have lost his place in the Indian side after a disappointing ODI World Cup but the wicket-keeper batsman continues to be a force to reckon with in T20s. He, however, had a quiet IPL last season compared to his standards. Karthik scored just 253 runs in 14 matches with only 2 fifty-plus scores to his name. The experienced campaigner would be hoping to set that right and steer KKR all the way to the title in IPL 2020.
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Shubman Gill
Gill was named the Emerging Player of the Tournament for his Impressive show in IPL 2019. He scored 296 runs in 14 matches but for the better part of the tournament, he batted below No.6. When the right-hander was promoted up the order, he brought immediate success. Gill has come a long way since then. Based on his superb performance for India A, Gill also earned his maiden Test call-up last year. The Punjab batsman will be eager to demonstrate his talents in IPL 2020.
Kuldeep Yadav
The Chinaman spinner is one of the best when it comes to bowling in the shortest format of the game. But he was dropped from the KKR playing XI after a disastrous first-half of the tournament. The left-arm wrist-spinner will also have an eye to that spot in the Indian side for the T20 World Cup later this year and would look to leave a mark in this season of IPL
Three foreigners to watch out for
Andre Russell
The Jamaican is about raw power with a cricket bat and is also a handy option with the ball. Last season, he contributed 510 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of 204.81 and chipped in with 11 wickets. He was practically a one-man army for KKR, hitting 52 sixes in the tournament. KKR will hope for another all-round performance from Russell.
Sunil Narine
Narine remains a consistent wicket-taking threat for KKR. There was a lot of buzz around KKR’s decision to retain him after he picked up only 10 wickets in 12 matches and scored 143 runs with the bat, but franchise showed its faith on a trusted warrior and now it will be up to Narine to repay the faith.
Pat Cummins
The No.1-ranked Test bowler, Australia’s Pat Cummins will hog the limelight when he turns up for KKR in IPL 2020. He was picked up for 15.5 crores in the auctions and the pressure will be on him to deliver.
Past record:
2008: League stage.
2009: League stage
2010: League stage.
2011: Playoffs.
2012: Champions.
2013: League stage.
2014: Champions.
2015: League stage.
2016: Playoffs.
2017: Playoffs.
2018: Playoffs
2019: 5th
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