IPL 2023: 3 Players KKR might pick at the auction
The IPL mini-auction for the upcoming edition of the tournament in 2023 on December 23 in Kochi. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finished the last season in the seventh position. But they have already started their preparation for the next season by trading in big players before the auction.
They signed Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, and wicketkeeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz but spent INR 21.25 crore for these three singings. KKR now have only INR 7.05 crore in the purse and have only 14 players in the pool. Kolkata-based franchise needs to sign a minimum of four players to fulfill criteria for the IPL squad for a season. So, let’s take a look at three players KKR might target in the auction.
Nicholas Pooran
The star wicketkeeper batter was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the upcoming season despite scoring 304 runs at an average of 38.25 and strike rate of 144.33 Pooran has been in sensational form lately as he guided Deccan Gladiators to the Abu Dhabi T10 2022 title and won the Player of the Tournament award for scoring 345 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 234. 69. KKR are in a need of a wicketkeeper batter and Pooran, who is in INR 2 crore bracket, will be on their target for sure.
Shakib Al Hasan
Bangladesh skipper went unsold during the 2022 mega-auction due to his involvement with the international team. Shakib played for KKR during the 2011-17 and 2021 editions of the tournament and was impressive with both bat and ball. KKR released overseas stars Pat Cummins, Sam Billings, Chamika Karunaratne, and Mohammad Nabi ahead of the auction and lack a genuine all-rounder in their current pool of players.
Jaydev Unadkat 50
The 31-year-old left-arm pacer took only six wickets from five innings for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2022 and was released ahead of the upcoming auction. Unadkat is enjoying great success in domestic cricket with Saurashtra, with the highest 19 wickets from just 10 innings. And as a reward, he has been called up by the Indian team for the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh. KKR lack a left-arm pacer and might go for their former player (base price of INR 50 lakh) in the auction.
