KKR at IPL 2020 Auction: Squad hits a home run with Cummins, Banton in the mix

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made heads turn at the IPL 2020 auctions for the right reasons. While they were very clear on whom to go for, they even broke the bank with the record highest-ever overseas signing of Pat Cummins for a sum of Rs 15.50 crore. KKR Squad for IPL 2020 covers all bases […]
 

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made heads turn at the IPL 2020 auctions for the right reasons. While they were very clear on whom to go for, they even broke the bank with the record highest-ever overseas signing of Pat Cummins for a sum of Rs 15.50 crore. KKR Squad for IPL 2020 covers all bases – overseas stars as well as uncapped domestic and international players.

New Additions

Pat Cummins (Rs 15.50 crore), Eoin Morgan (Rs 5.25 crore), Tom Banton (Rs 1 crore), Pravin Tambe (Rs 20 lakh – NOW SUSPENDED), Chris Green (Rs 20 lakh), M Siddharth (Rs 20 lakh), Varun Chakravarthy (Rs 4 crore), Rahul Tripathi (Rs 60 lakh), Nikhil Naik (Rs 20 lakh)

KKR Squad for IPL 2020

Dinesh Karthik (c), Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Nitish Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Rinku Singh, Sandeep Warrier, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Siddhesh Lad, Shubman Gill, Prasidh Krishna, Pat Cummins, Eoin Morgan, Tom Banton, Chris Green, Nikhil Naik, M Siddharth, Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Tripathi, Ali Khan

IPL Auction Performance Summary

It would be safe to say that KKR was one of the smartest teams in the auctions out there. They went hammer and tongs after the ones they wanted, withdrew quietly where the player didn’t fit in the scheme of things. KKR has also blended the right mix of domestic and international experience that will raise the quality and standard of the squad overall. They definitely are the team to beat this IPL.

Best buy for KKR

Eoin Morgan could be considered as KKR’s best pick amongst all. Not only does the England World Cup-winning captain comes with a reputation of being a dangerous hitter of the cricket ball, but he could also be of great help to Dinesh Karthik and play the role of his deputy too, with enough captaincy experience behind him.

Eoin Morgan will be an influential figure in the leadership group of KKR squad for IPL 2020

Last year, Karthik found himself in a soup at times when the team wasn’t faring well and eventually found themselves out of contention for the playoffs. With Morgan’s presence this time, they have an able leader in the midst of the chaos that often grips in.

Loopholes

The fast-bowling department at KKR inspires confidence and some concern too, both at the same time. While they are heavy in terms of foreign pace battery in the form of Pat Cummins and Lockie Ferguson, the domestic firepower is either too inexperienced or are injury-prone. If KKR can take care of their pace battery well, there’s hardly that can stop them.

Verdict

KKR has always been that sort of unit at the auction table that shows flashes of brilliance instead of bidding aggressively on the whole. However, that changed this time and they were able to play their cards to perfection and aced most of the bidding wars with their counterparts, the best being that of Pat Cummins.

KKR Probable Playing XI

Read Here: Probable Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Playing XI for IPL 2020