Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have proved it time and again as why they are among the strongest sides in T20 cricket. Since 2011, there have been 3 seasons when they couldn’t make it to the knockouts – 2013, 2015 and 2019, and interestingly, they bounced right into the playoffs in the 2014 and 2016 season.
So, one can surely expect the 2-time IPL champions to go stronger than ever in the forthcoming season of IPL all set to commence from August 19, in the conditions of UAE.
The franchise made commendable picks in the IPL 2020 auction, roping in big-names like Eoin Morgan and Pat Cummins which would give their side a major boost in the batting and bowling departments respectively.
Among a squad comprising 24 cricketers, here are the top 5 players from KKR who could pose a threat to the rivals in the 13th edition of IPL –
Shubhman Gill
With Chris Lynn now being roped in by Mumbai Indians, the onus of building winning partnerships and capitalizing in the powerplay now lies on Shubman Gill.
As an opener, the Punjab-born has been a menace for the opposition teams in IPL. He averages 47.20 in 6 innings, and has notched 3 fifties while amassing 236 runs under his belt.
He could be backed under must-win games to deliver to the potential, as was visible with his knocks of 76 and 65 in the latter stages of IPL 2019.
Pat Cummins
The Aussie pacer was the costliest bid in IPL 2020, as he was bought at a price of 15.5 crores.
Despite injuries at numerous stages of his cricket career, Cummins has made a mark for himself, someone who could bowl at 140-plus,generate bounce, and unsettle the batsmen.
In T20Is played since 2017, Cummins has been effective in scraping 13 wickets while averaging less than 19.
The last he played in IPL was in 2017, when he picked 15 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 24.87, and surely with the form in his favor, he would aim to come up with better shows in IPL 2020.
Andre Russell
It was a one-man show by the Caribbean giant in IPL 2019. He was the biggest contributor in KKR’s performances, both as a batsman and as a bowler.
In 13 innings, Russell hammered 510 runs with 4 fifties and struck at 204.81. He hit a total of 52 sixes in the tournament, the most by any player in IPL 2019. Also, he managed to get 11 wickets while averaging 26, which was the best performance by a KKR bowler in the previous edition.
There will be a ton of expectations from the Caribbean all-rounder in what promises to be another exciting season.
Eoin Morgan
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Morgan’s numbers in IPL don’t do justice to the player he is in the international arena. He has amassed 854 runs in 45 innings while averaging just over 20.
The last he played in IPL was in 2017, and scenarios have changed since then. The southpaw isn’t the same player that he once was, as is visible from the way he has batted since 2019 in T20Is, where he averaged over 40 and enjoyed a strike rate above 170.
He is a match-winner for England in the limited overs whose experience would come of great help to KKR in IPL 2020.
Nitish Rana
The batting all-rounder was on a different note in IPL 2019, and will look to continue, even better his numbers in the much-awaited season.
With the bat, Rana acquired 344 runs in 14 matches, averaging 34.40, striking at 146.38, along with 3 fifties. Some of his top-knocks include the 68 vs SRH, 63 vs KXIP, and 85* vs RCB.
He can bowl a few overs and get the much-needed breakthroughs with his off-breaks.
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