Although they started horribly, Kolkata Knight Riders executed a remarkable turnaround to reach the finals of IPL 2021. Much of the credit must go to the influx of fresh energy in the form of the likes of Venkatesh Iyer. The pitch also suited KKR’s team very well. However, the management will target to build an established squad so that KKR will be a competitive team every season. As per some of the latest reports, each team can retain a maximum of four players before the mega-auction. In this article, we take a look at four players KKR might target to retain ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auctions.
1) Andre Russell
Andre Russell is one of the players KKR might target to retain ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auctions. The returns have dwindled in recent seasons, but Russell is still a premier T20 all-rounder and can be unbeatable on his day. Especially on the Indian pitches, Russell is a beast and cannot be ignored.
Apart from his batting exploits, the West Indian has also done well with the ball lately. He has had a few good games at the death. A quality all-rounder is a must for any IPL franchise. Russell is one of the best in the business, and KKR might look to retain the player before the 2022 auctions.
2) Shubman Gill
KKR had invested in Shubman Gill in the 2018 auctions, keeping in mind the future of the franchise. Gill has done well in patches but is yet to completely prosper in the T20 format. That said, he is still 22, and there is a long way to go for him.
Irrespective of his recent performances, Gill is likely to be retained by KKR. A young Indian opener, that too with the skill of Gill, will go for a huge amount at the auctions. KKR would rather retain him and give him more opportunities. It would not be a surprise if they hand him the captaincy duties, as well.
3) Varun CV
Varun Chakravarthy is one of the players KKR might target to retain ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auctions. While in 2020, the mystery spinner collected 17 wickets, he took 18 scalps in 2021. In both editions, the Tamil Nadu man’s economy has been under 7.
Over the seasons, KKR has relied on mystery spin as an important component of their XI. Sunil Narine may not be worthy of retention anymore, and hence, Varun CV will be an option. He is a domestic cricketer and has shown that he can be consistent. Moreover, the future seasons are likely to happen in India, and at the Eden Gardens pitch, Varun can wreak havoc on the opposition. He might go big if released to the auctions, and hence, KKR could decide to keep hold of him.
4) Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer was the major difference for KKR between the first and the second phase. In the UAE, the 26-year-old scored 370 runs at the top of the order apart from collecting three wickets. He instantly added balance to the XI and hence, the other players also got the license to be at their best.
Although he is still an uncapped player, Iyer seems to possess the temperament and skills to survive at the highest level. Moreover, his attribute of being a domestic pace-bowling all-rounder is a profile that every team will need. He is fairly young and will only improve as he gains experience. Like they backed Andre Russell in the past, KKR could decide to repeat the experiment with Iyer. If it succeeds, the dividends will be far higher. Hence, he is one player KKR might target to retain.
