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IPL 2020: Predicted Line-Up Of KKR This Season
- Updated: December 27, 2019
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The IPL 2020 auctions are now over and the teams have roped in the best players for the upcoming season as per their requirement. Pat Cummins was the highest sold overseas player at 15 crores, while Piyush Chawla became the highest-paid Indian player after he was bought by CSK for 6.75 crores. With the squads settled teams are now ready and waiting for the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League to get underway.
With this article, we start a series where we will analyse and come up with the 3 best possible playing XI for every team. We start with the two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders.
KKR have made sensible buys in the auctions which makes them one of the most competitive teams in the competition. They picked up Pat Cummins for 15 crores making him the league’s most expensive foreign buy ever. Alongside Cummins, KKR thinktank also added England skipper Eoin Morgan for 5.25 crores. His addition strengthens the middle-order with the likes of Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell in the middle-order. Tom Banton was a good bargain for 1 crore and is expected to replace Chris Lynn at the top. He has been in the news for his big-hitting prowess and now he gets the IPL stage to showcase his talent.
Also Read: Complete List of All 8 Teams After IPL 2020 Auctions
The Best Possible XI
Sunil Narine, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Kuldeep Yadav, Pat Cummins, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Sandeep Warrier
This looks the best possible line-up for KKR with enough firepower in all departments. Moreover, this playing XI gives the team the perfect balance. Sunil Narine and Shubman Gill can open the innings together. While Gill will look to anchor the innings, Narine, as he did in the past for KKR, will take on the bowlers from the word go. Nitish Rana and Dinesh Karthik can provide stability in the middle-order along with England skipper Eoin Morgan. Once they set up the base, Russell can come in and finish the game off for Kolkata. Russell finishing games off for Kolkata was the set template last season and there is no doubt that it will remain the same in IPL 2020.
Coming to the bowlers you have Pat Cummins to lead the attack alongside Russell. Both bowlers can bowl with pace. Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine are bowlers with good reputation and can do the job of putting the breaks on the run-scoring in the middle overs. Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti are the other Indian bowlers who can complete the lineup. Cummis should ideally be used on two-over spells so that he can bowl to at the death along with two up front in case you need a death bowler specialist.
Batting Heavy XI
Tom Banton, Sunil Narine, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik, Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Sandeep Warrier, Kuldeep Yadav
In case they want to bat deep in tough games against Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians or Royal Challengers Bangalore this is the best possible line-up they can go with. In case they bat first they should try to kill the game off by looking to put up a score off more than 200. This is where KKR would need Tom Banton’s six-hitting ability. Banton, who is playing for Brisbane Heat in the BBL 09 has already hit six sixes in just two matches with a score of fifty plus. In a chase scenario as well, Banton’s start is important and then the likes of Karthik. Morgan and Russell should take it up upon themselves to win the game for KKR.
The Indian bowlers in Mavi, Nagarkoti and Kuldeep will then have to take that additional responsibility with the ball in case Cummins sits out.
Also Read: Costliest Players in IPL 2020 Auctions
Bowling Heavy XI
Sunil Narine, Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik, Andre Russell, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Yadav
While a batting heavy approach is one way to go into tough games, picking a bowling heavy XI is another. Against the likes of Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings or Royal Challengers Bangalore who possess the best batting line-ups in the tournament, going in with good bowlers is a good option. This is where KKR might use their pace battery of Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Andre Russell, Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi. They might have to bench someone like Eoin Morgan as Russell and Karthik will need to take that added responsibility of making the runs. Somone like Banton might also get benched to allow Sunil Narine to into the XI and open alongside Gill and form the four overseas players of the side. Kuldeep will be his spinning partner from the other end to complete a six-five formation.
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