The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got off to a strong start in the Indian Premier League 2022, winning three of their first four games. However, they quickly lost their way and suffered five straight losses, despite ordinary performances from both departments of the game. Then, in the second half, they were erratic in every alternative game, winning only six of their fourteen league encounters. As a result, they were unable to make the playoffs.
Throughout the season, the Knight Riders lacked a consistent starting pair, with the majority of them failing to give the team a decent start. The two-time champions’ death bowling woes cost them dearly, as they were unable to stop the opposition in the last stages of the innings. In the future, the team’s management is expected to release some players based on their team’s combination and form in the second half of the season.
KKR is expected to release three players ahead of the IPL 2023 season:
1.Aaron Finch
Aaron Finch, Australia’s white-ball captain, became the first player in IPL history to play for nine different franchises. This explains why he hasn’t scored enough runs for each of the teams he’s played for in the tournament. For his base price of 1.5 crore, Finch replaced Alex Hales in the KKR squad ahead of the 2022 season.
He had a seven-run outing in his first innings of the season. However, in the following game against the Rajasthan Royals (RR), the 35-year-old hitter batted well and scored 58 runs off 28 pitches. His next three points, though, were 3,0 and 14.
The team’s lack of contribution at the opening position cost them the event, as they dropped Finch in the final stages. He has missed the last three league games and is expected to be released by the organisation before the next IPL season.
2.Rahane, Ajinkya
The seasoned campaigner has sought to play second fiddle to his companion since his IPL debut. He has succeeded on the majority of times, but it has not aided his individual teams in crossing the finish line. The 33-year-old was purchased by KKR with a base price of 1 crore in the IPL 2022 auction.
Rahane got off to a good start with a 44-ball 34 in the tournament opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), which helped the team win. He came back with scores of 9,12,7, and 8 in his following four innings. These setbacks caused the team’s management to remove him from the starting lineup.
The top-order batter batted in the last two innings, scoring 53 runs on 48 pitches. He was unable to play in the team’s last league game due to a hamstring injury. He is another player who is unlikely to be retained by the Knight Riders after only 133 runs in seven innings.
3.Mavi Shivam
The performances of many young pacers in IPL 2022 garnered them recognition. However, a handful of them were mediocre and unable to demonstrate their talent and contribute to the team’s success. Shivam Mavi, who has been with the KKR club since the 2018 season, is one of these pacers.
Mavi had 11 wickets in ten appearances in the 2021 edition, with an economy rate of 7.24, and was expected to be the team’s main bowler in this edition as well. In his first five outings, Mavi frequently let up 30+ runs and only took four wickets.
Mavi was dismissed for 50 runs in four overs against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in his sixth appearance, taking only one wicket. He scored 30 runs in one over, including five sixes, and was immediately dropped from the team following that game. He hasn’t played in either of KKR’s last three league games. As a result, the team’s administration is expected to hire a different player next season to bolster their fast bowling arsenal.