All eyes are set on the
Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction which sets to be held in Bengaluru on
February 12 and 13. This season two new teams Lucknow Supergiants and Gujarat
Titans will join the eight franchises, which have been part of the cash-rich
T20 league since the inaugural season of IPL.
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As the mega auction is
around the corner, all the eight franchises have retained players as per the
norm of the league while the two entrants signed players from the draft.
This season all the
franchises need to rebuild their teams. So, bidding wars are expected among the
franchises over the talented cricketers and proven stars. Ahead of the auction, Opoyi
picks five players who Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) should buy
from the mega auction.
Also Read: IPL Auction 2022: 5 players Chennai Super Kings should consider buying
Nitish Rana
Nitish Rana had been a
vital cog of KKR batting since he joined the franchise in 2018. In four seasons, the southpaw scored over 1200 runs at
a strike rate of nearly 132. Last season, Rana scored 383 runs as KKR played
the grand finale against Chennai Super Kings. The 2012 and 2014 IPL champions
lost the final by 27 runs.
The No. 3 batter of the
franchise was an important part of the side. KKR will definitely go for him in the
auction.
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Mohammed Shami
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami
has been released by Punjab Kings. Shami, a key component of the Indian pace
attack, will be one of the biggest names to feature in the auction. Considering
his experience of Indian conditions and expertise, he will be a good buy for
any franchise.
KKR would like to buy the
fast bowler to reunite. Shami had played for KKR in 2013 IPL. Shami is death over
specialist and his deadly yorkers can leave any batter’s stumps tumbling.
Also Read: IPL Auction 2022: 5 players Chennai Super Kings should consider buying
Nicholas Pooran
KKR may consider buying the
willy West Indian batter. The southpaw is known for his stroke-making
abilities. Pooran’s free-flowing nature of batting saw him scoring 353 runs in IPL
2020 in 14 matches at a whopping strike rate of 169.71.
Pooran had a terrible time
with the bat in IPL 2021 for Punjab Kings as the destructive batter could add
only 85 runs from 12 matches. However, a great season in the Caribbean Premier
League 2021, where he scored 263 runs at the strike rate of 163.35, will
definitely make KKR management consider Pooran as a serious option to strengthen
their batting attack.
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Chris Lynn
KKR had released Lynn after
the end of the 2019 season. In IPL 2022, Lynn played just one game for Mumbai
Indians. He is now available for buy in the auction. Although Lynn scored 49 in
his first match for the five-time IPL champions against RCB in the opening
match, he was dropped from the team and didn’t play a single match for the rest
of IPL 2021.
Lynn, however, amassed 1329
runs from 42 IPL games at an impressive strike rate of 140.63 and had some
great opening stands with Sunil Narine during his KKR days. KKR would like to
get him back in their colours and take the bowlers to cleaners at the beginning
of the innings.
Also Read: ‘Loyalty with RCB is more important than winning IPL’, says Virat Kohli
Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood will be available
this time around with the T20 World Cup around the corner in Australia in
October-November. The 30-year-old pacer
played a vital role in helping MS Dhoni’s side claim their fourth IPL title.
Hazlewood has had a tremendous year in 2021 as he won both the IPL and the T20
World Cup for Australia in UAE.
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Hazlewood took 11 wickets
from nine games including a couple of them in the final against Kolkata Knight
Riders. KKR might need someone who can unsettle the opposition batters with his
movement of the ball.
