Two times Indian Premier League (IPL) champs Kolkata Knight Riders battled big time in the last release of the competition. The management was concerned by their lack of consistency; despite having a lot of talent, they consistently failed to deliver.
The position of wicketkeeper was a major source of concern among the team’s various departments. Sam Billings and Sheldon Jackson, the two chosen players, were unable to demonstrate their worth, so they have been released ahead of the next edition.
A mini-auction is coming up, and KKR will want to bring in a good wicketkeeper. The only wicketkeeper on the team is Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who played for Gujarat Titans in the past.
On that note, here is a look at five wicketkeepers KKR can focus on in the auction:
1) Ben McDermott
In the Big Bash League, the Australian wicketkeeper Ben McDermott plays for the Hobart Hurricanes. He is a very hard hitter, scoring 577 runs over 13 games in the BBL at a strike rate of 153.87.
McDermott could be a good buy for KKR because he has been a top BBL goalkeeper for the past two seasons.
2) Phil Salt
The injury to Dawid Malan gave the Englishman a shot at the World Cup. Salt is a brave stroke-maker who bats first and can also keep wickets. He bats first.
In 13 T20 internationals, he has scored 245 runs at an incredible strike rate of 161.2. Additionally, while playing for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League, he scored 671 runs at a strike rate of 146.51 in 30 games.
Salt could provide KKR with valuable momentum early in the innings because he can bat at either one down or two down.
3) Srikar Bharat
Bharat made a name for himself in the Indian Premier League with a stellar stint with Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, he was unable to replicate his form when he was selected by the Delhi Daredevils.
In four Vijay Hazare Trophy matches, Bharat scored 184 runs, including a century. Due to the fact that he would serve as a substitute for an Indian quota player, KKR would have the opportunity to acquire foreign players for other teams.
KKR currently has 7.05 crore rupees in their bank account and needs to fill three foreign positions in their team.
4) Narayan Jagadeesan
Jagadeesan has been winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy for a long time. He has amassed 799 runs in six matches, including a double hundred.
For a number of years, Jagadeesan was a member of the Chennai Super Kings team. However, the two parties have parted ways ahead of the new Indian Premier League season due to the difficulty in finding opportunities.
Jagadeesan might be a good investment for KKR.
5) Arun Karthik
A veteran of the game, Arun Karthik has previously represented both CSK and RCB.In addition, he was successful in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL).
Karthik has also performed well for Puducherry in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 251 runs in four games. Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s development may benefit from his experience.
It’s possible that KKR won’t be able to spend a lot of money on players because of their limited purse strength. They will need to make smart purchases, and new coach Chandrakanth Pandit will be eager to bring in new players.
On December 23, the auction is scheduled to take place.