Kolkata Knight Riders made it to the IPL 2021 final losing out to Chennai Super Kings. A late surge in the second half of the IPL took the Knights to their third final. However, with the mega auction coming up, the franchise has the tough task of identifying the four players that the side can choose as their retentions ahead of the mega auction.
Meanwhile, the BCCI has laid out the retention rules ahead of IPL 2022. As per the newly laid rules, old teams can keep four players ahead of 2022 auction. After the list of retained players is finalised, the two new franchises will get the first choice from the rest of the pool ahead of the auction where they can pick up a maximum of 3 players. Also, there are two separate forms of retaining the players. Either team can keep two Indian and two overseas players or three Indians and one overseas.
In this article, we take a look at four players that Kolkata Knight Riders can retain heading into IPL 2022.
#1. Shubman Gill
Gill is someone that the franchise has invested heavily since 2018. He was drafted into the side after his success in the ICC U-19 World Cup that India won that year. Since opening the batting in IPL 2020, he has scored over 450 runs back to back.
His batting was one of the main reasons why KKR made it to the finals of the tournament. Going ahead KKR should trust the youngster and should retain him in IPL 2022 mega auction.
#3. Venkatesh Iyer
Iyer was the find of the season for KKR. He played all the games in the UAE leg and batted at the top of the order. He played 10 matches and scored 370 runs and picked up three wickets as well. The southpaw provided the much-needed impetus to the KKR innings either batting first or chasing.
His intent on scoring quick runs was the stand-out feature that was praised by cricket experts all over. Along with Gill, it is the opening partnership with Iyer on which the KKR side should rebuild their franchise.
#3. Sunil Narine
Sunil Narine is the third player Kolkata Knight Riders should retain. He is a pure matchwinner has played all his life with the Knights. He has proved his worth in gold both with bat and ball.
In the recently concluded IPL season, he took 16 wickets and paired up a deadly combination with Varun Chakravarthy. It might well come down for KKR to pick between Varun and Narine as one of them to be retained by the franchise.
#4. Andre Russell
Since his break-out season in 2019, Andre Russell has become more of an enigma for KKR. He injured his hamstring and missed the last few matches including the final for KKR. However, it is very much likely that the franchise might continue their association with the West Indies all-rounder.
In the process, they can also maintain the Narine-Russell combination.
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