IPL 2023 KKR retained players: How KKR squad looks like for IPL 2023
Published on: Feb 22, 2023 6:33 pm IST|Updated on: Feb 22, 2023 6:33 pm IST
IPL 2023 KKR retained players: The Kolkata Knight Riders have retained a total of 13 players for the upcoming IPL 2023 season, with a good mix of experienced and young talent. The team has shown faith in some of its star players from the previous season, while also making some shrewd trades and picking up promising youngsters in the IPL 2023 player auction.
At the top of the retained list is the skipper Shreyas Iyer, who was bought by KKR for a whopping 12.25 Crore in the IPL 2022 auction. Iyer is a highly talented middle-order batsman who can also captain the side, making him an invaluable asset to the team. He will be expected to lead from the front with both bat and tactics.
Another crucial retention for KKR is Sunil Narine, the West Indies all-rounder who has been with the franchise since the first IPL season. Narine’s unorthodox spin bowling and aggressive batting make him a potent weapon in the KKR arsenal. Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Narine remains one of the most valuable players in the KKR lineup.
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The explosive all-rounder Andre Russell is also back with KKR for the IPL 2023 season. Russell has been a key player for the franchise over the years, with his big-hitting ability and bowling prowess making him one of the most feared players in the IPL. He will be expected to play a pivotal role in KKR’s quest for the title.
KKR has also retained the services of fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who has been a consistent performer in the IPL over the years. Nitish Rana, the left-handed top-order batsman, has also been retained after a solid performance in the previous season. Rinku Singh, the middle-order batsman, and Anukul Roy, the left-arm spinner, have also been retained by the franchise.
IPL 2023 KKR retained players
Check out the IPL 2023 KKR Retained players list,
Player | IPL Salary (In INR) |
Shreyas Iyer | 12.25 Crore |
Sunil Narine | 6 Crore |
Andre Russell | 12 Crore |
Umesh Yadav | 2 Crore |
Nitish Rana | 8 Crore |
Rinku Singh | 55 Lakh |
Venkatesh Iyer | 8 Crore |
Tim Southee | 1.5 Crore |
Varun Chakravarthy | 8 Crore |
Shardul Thakur (Traded from Delhi Capitals) | 10.75 Crore |
Lockie Ferguson (Traded from Gujarat Titans) | 10 Crore |
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Traded from Gujarat Titans) | 50 Lakh |
Anukul Roy | 20 Lakh |
Harshit Rana | 20 Lakh |
One of the most exciting retentions for KKR is Venkatesh Iyer, the young all-rounder who burst onto the scene in the IPL 2022 season. Iyer was bought by KKR for 8 Crore in the previous auction, and he repaid the faith shown in him with some impressive performances with both bat and ball. Iyer’s ability to bat at the top of the order and bowl useful medium-pace make him a valuable asset to the KKR team.
KKR has also made some smart trades ahead of the IPL 2023 season, bringing in some quality players to bolster their squad. The most high-profile trade for KKR was the acquisition of fast bowler Shardul Thakur from the Delhi Capitals. Thakur is a highly experienced fast bowler who has played for India in all three formats of the game. He will bring some much-needed depth and quality to the KKR pace attack.
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The franchise has also traded for Lockie Ferguson, the New Zealand fast bowler, who was with the Gujarat Titans in the previous season. Ferguson is a highly-rated fast bowler who has impressed in his limited opportunities in the IPL so far. Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the young wicketkeeper-batsman from Afghanistan, has also been traded to KKR from the Gujarat Titans.
In addition to these trades, KKR has also picked up some promising youngsters in the IPL 2023 player auction. One of the most exciting picks for KKR is Harshit Rana, the young left-handed batsman from Haryana. Rana is a highly talented player who has impressed in domestic cricket, and he could be a valuable addition to the KKR lineup in the future.
Overall, KKR has made some smart decisions in terms of player retention and recruitment ahead of the IPL 2023 season. The franchise has a good mix of experienced players and young talent, which should give them a balanced squad capable of challenging for the title.
One area where KKR has traditionally struggled is their batting lineup, especially at the top of the order. With the retention of Shreyas Iyer and the emergence of Venkatesh Iyer in the previous season, KKR appears to have addressed this issue to some extent. Nitish Rana and Sunil Narine are also capable of scoring quick runs, which should give the team some depth in the batting lineup.