Kolkata Knight Riders have won the Indian Premier League (IPL) twice, in 2012 and 2014.
With the return of Gautam Gambhir, the captain of KRR’s IPL-winning teams, as the mentor of the team, the Kolkata-based side will hoping to bring in a few more star players to add their ranks during the IPL 2024 auction to be held in Dubai and challenge for the trophy again.
Available Slots: 12
Overseas Slots: 4
Salary cap available: Rs 32.70 crore
Released Players: Aarya Desai, David Wiese, Johnson Charles, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Lockie Ferguson, Mandeep Singh, N Jagadeesan, Shakib Al Hasan, Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee, and Umesh Yadav.
5 Players KKR Can Target at IPL 2024 Auction
Pat Cummins
Australia’s World Cup-winning captain can be a useful player for KKR, given his ability with the bat and ball, especially as he has already starred for the same franchise in the past. Apart from his acumen with the ball in hand, Cummins also holds the record for joint-second fastest IPL fifty, which came in Purple and Gold.
Gerald Coetzee
The South African is known for pace and accuracy with the new ball and has been used as death-over specialist by the national side. Given his multi-faceted use as an out and out fast bowler, KKR, who are lacking in that specific role, may be keen. The youngster’s inexperience may be considered a stumbling block but Coetzee has proven his worth in recent matches.
Mitchell Starc
Starc’s ability with the new ball and on the recent Eden Gardens pitches can prove to be a deadly combination. A left-arm pacer may be on the radar of many IPL sides but KKR will do well to remember the last time he was bought by the franchise. The Australian’s patchy attendance record at the IPL may prove to be caution for sides irrespective of his ability.
Harshal Patel
A wily customer with an older ball and a treasure with at the death, Harshal might just be the player for KKR to end their search for a death-over bowler. The Indian pacer’s skill and variations are par none in the league.
Shardul Thakur
Even though he was let go by KKR, they might just look to get his back on the cheap. Indian pace-bowling all-rounders will go for a premium, given their scarcity in the auction pool. With a new death-over bowler to accompany him, Thakur can be freed up to a trump card on any given day, with the ball and as well as with the bat.
