IPL 2020 is just around the corner as everything is coming together. All franchises have landed in UAE and begin their net sessions soon ahead of the much anticipated season. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) yesterday received a massive bowl as their left-arm fast bowler Harry Gurney was ruled out for the upcoming IPL season.
England medium-fast bowler Gurney has been ruled out owing to a shoulder injury undergo an operation next month. Gurney’s absence reduces the Knight Riders count of foreign players to seven in their squad of 23. However, it is understood that they have finalised a replacement and will announce the name soon.
As they say, one’s loss is another’s gain, on that note we look ahead at those 5 players that can replace Gurney in IPL 2020.
5 Players Who Can Replace KKR Player Harry Gurney For IPL 2020:
5. Mark Wood
England fast bowler Mark Wood will surely be on the radar of KKR for the upcoming IPL season. Mood who had a base price of Rs. 50 lakh remained unsold in the IPL auction. The fiery pacer can bowl rapidly and pick wickets in any stage of the match. Wood in his IPL career has so far only played a solitary game but has represented England in 8 T20I and 51 ODIs respectively.
The 30-year-old was also part of the World Cup-winning England team last year. Wood lately has also developed variations in his bowling which no longer makes him a one-dimensional bowler. A bowler who can bowl at 145 Kmph and then back it up with a well-disguised slower ball which always is hard to manage for any bowler.
Wood can be an asset for KKR in UAE as there is no substitute for pace which the speedster has in abundance.
4. Alzarri Joseph
Another interesting addition to the KKR set up this year could be West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph. The 23-year-old also remained unsold in the last IPL auction at his base price of Rs. 50 Lakhs. After all, the speedster holds the record of best bowling figures in IPL history. In his debut match playing for the Mumbai Indians, Joseph recorded figures of 6-12 which still stands as a record.
However, Joseph has so far only managed to play 3 IPL matches and after his maiden match, he went wicketless in the last two and was released by Mumbai Indians. The pacer is now much more experienced and aware of his strengths which makes him a bright prospect.
Joseph will be coming after playing an entire season of CPL were pitches are similar to what we can expect in the UAE which will serve as an advantage for KKR.
3. Kesrick Williams
Another player that is featuring in the CPL and KKR will have a close eye on is medium-pacer Kesrick Williams. We all know him for the ‘notebook’ celebration that he received from Virat Kohli in a T20I match last year. However, the fact is that Williams is an ideal T20 bowler that flourishes when the pitches are slow and he can use his cutters to good effect.
On UAE pitches Williams can be effective as he knows how to adapt by mixing his face. On top of that Williams is also really handy down the order which can be a bonus for KKR in the upcoming IPL season.
The 30-year-old hasn’t yet featured in the IPL but has represented West Indies in 25 T20I matches. He remained unsold at a base price of Rs. 50 Lakhs in the IPL auction.
2. Ben Cutting
The Australian Ben Cutting has been a proved match-winner in T20 cricket all around the world. His experience of playing T20 leagues everywhere makes him a potent force. Cutting has tasted quite a fair success even in the IPL during his career. He was the man of the man in 2016 IPL final when he stunned RCB while playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Cutting surprisingly went unsold in the last IPL auction at a base price of Rs. 75 Lakhs. The medium-pacer is a suitable candidate to replace Gurney as he can unfold his tricks with the bowl on UAE pitches which will be suitable for him. Earlier this year he was a sensation in Pakistan Super League as he contributed with both bat and ball.
Cutting is a clever bowler and a destructive strike which makes him a gun T20 bowler. KKR can think of including Cutting in the upcoming IPL season which can be a major threat for all the other oppositions.
1. Jason Holder
At the number 1 spot is none other than the West Indies skipper Jason Holder. The star all-rounder is currently at the peak of his powers who is a match-winner on his day. Holder is currently playing in the CPL and will be hoping to get on the flight to UAE after the conclusion. Holder had a base price of Rs. 75 Lakhs but wasn’t picked by any team in the IPL auction.
Holder is a multi-dimensional cricket that helps his side in all departments. He also brings in leadership qualities within a time which will be an added advantage of Dinesh Karthik led KKR line-up. Holder has this knack of picking big wickets and becomes twice the bowler when the pitches assist him.
With the bat in hand, he is more than capable as in international cricket he has shown countless times that he can not only rotate strike but also execute big shots when needed. If KKR can rope in Holder for the IPL 2020 it will be solid inclusion in their squad in the UAE.