This was the second IPL season in a row where Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) couldn’t qualify to the playoffs, after qualifying to the final and getting very close to the title in IPL 2021.
Generally one would think that after missing out on the playoffs qualification twice in a row, a lot of players will be released from the KKR squad and the team might want to begin almost from the scratch next auction. But KKR might actually make a couple of shocking retentions before next IPL.
Here are the 2 players Kolkata Knight Riders might shockingly retain –
Anukul Roy
Anukul Roy did basically nothing for KKR in IPL 2023. He didn’t get a lot of opportunities either, but whenever he played, he didn’t appear to be making a mark with either bat or ball.
The KKR management had given Anukul the opportunity to bat at no. 3 in the first game of the season itself, but the left hander failed to grab the opportunity. He got a couple of more opportunities after that mid way through the season, but he hardly made an impact.
However, despite that, given the skillset that Anukul possesses in all three departments of the game, KKR might still shockingly retain him.
Liton Das
Liton Das came to the IPL late because of his national commitments with Bangladesh, played just one game at KKR and went back to Bangladesh again for national duty. But, he is currently one of the top opening batsmen in white ball cricket in the subcontinent. Not only is Liton Das compact from technical point of view, he scores his runs at a fair clip as well.
If Liton is available for the whole of next IPL season, he might earn himself a shocking retention from KKR, despite the fact that his availability was a matter of much concern this season and the Kolkata Knight Riders management must not be overly happy about it.
