Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will begin their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 campaign against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Chennai, after narrowly losing out on playoff qualification last year. KKR also kept their core group of players intact while still making some crucial additions to reinforce their roster, led by Eoin Morgan. If fit and available, Morgan, Pat Cummins, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine are the front-runners to fill the four overseas slots in the playing XI.The real battle in the side will be among the Indian teams, as the side includes some talented young players such as Shubman Gill and Prasidh Krishna, who both impressed when they first represented India earlier this year. Though Shubman Gill was instrumental in India’s Test series victory in Australia, Krishna exudes optimism after impressing everybody in his debut series against England.
Shubham Gill
Shubman Gill was by far KKR’s best batsman in the previous version, scoring 440 runs in 14 games. He will once again be responsible for getting KKR off to a good start. In the Test series against Australia, Gill was one of India’s star players, scoring runs against a top-notch bowling attack. Though he was KKR’s most prolific batsman in the IPL last year, his strike rate was often questioned, and fans would be hoping he bats with the same offensive flair he displayed against Australia at the Gabba, instilling terror in opposing bowlers.
Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy, a mystery spinner, had a breakthrough season with KKR last year, taking 17 wickets in 13 appearances, including a five-wicket haul. With his economical spells, he was able to put pressure on the opposition batsmen in the middle overs after taking wickets. Varun Chakravarthy was twice called up to the national T20I team based on his IPL heroics, but he was left out at the last minute on both occasions. He was unable to board the flight to Australia due to a late illness, and he was also unable to pass the fitness test.
IPL 2021: Shubman Gill and Andre Russell are mainstays of KKR’s batting line-up.© BCCI/IPL
After missing on to the playoffs qualification by a narrow margin last year, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will launch their Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) campaign against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Chennai. Led by Eoin Morgan, KKR have kept their core group of players intact and also made some key signings to strengthen their squad. Morgan, Pat Cummins, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, if fit and available, are the front-runners to occupy the four overseas slots in the playing XI. The real tussle in the side is among the selection of Indian players as the side boasts some quality young players like Shubman Gill and Prasidh Krishna, both of whom impressed when they turned up for India earlier this year. While Shubman Gill played a key role in India’s Test series win Down Under, Krishna is oozing with confidence after impressing one and all during his debut series against England.
Here are the three KKR players to watch out for
Shubham Gill
Shubman Gill was KKR’s best batsman in the last edition by a country mile, scoring 440 runs in 14 matches. The onus of providing KKR with solid starts will once again be on him. Gill was one of the standout performers for India in the Test series against Australia, scoring runs against a top-quality bowling attack. While he was the most productive batsman for KKR in the IPL last year, his strike rate often came under the scanner and the fans would hope he bats with the same attacking flair he showed against Australia at the Gabba and instill fear among opposition bowlers.
Varun Chakravarthy
Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s had a breakout season with KKR last year as he picked up 17 wickets from 13 outings, including a five-wicket haul. After from picking wickets, he was able to create pressure on the opposition batsmen in the middle overs, with his economical spells. Based on his IPL heroics, Varun Chakravarthy twice earned the national call-up to the T20I side, but he was left out on both occasions at the last moment. A late injury kept him from boarding the flight to Australia, while the second setback came when he failed to clear the fitness test. Determined to shrug off these setbacks, Chakravarthy will definitely be the one KKR player to watch out for and Chennai’s spin-friendly track will certainly come to his aid.Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comhttps://www.jiosaavn.com/embed/playlist/5148894
Andre Russell
Russell underwhelmed with both bat and ball during an injury-plagued season in the UAE, after the lows of the previous few years. Just 117 runs were scored by the big-hitting West Indian, who also took just six wickets. Every opponent is well aware of the havoc that a fit and firing Russell can wreak on a given day, and KKR will be hoping that he will replicate his magic of 2019, when he scored 510 runs at a mind-boggling strike rate of 204.81 while also picking up 11 wickets.