KKR 2023 Playing 11: Strongest Kolkata Knight Riders Playing XI

KKR 2023 would look to put on a better show than the previous edition of Indian Premier League. They’ve made some major changes to their squad going into this year’s auction, and here’s how strongest Kolkata Knight Riders Playing XI can look like for IPL 2023. 

KKR 2023 Playing 11

1. Venkatesh Iyer
2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz
3. Shreyas Iyer
4. Nitish Rana
5. Rinku Singh
6. Andre Russell
7. Sunil Narine
8. Shardul Thakur
9. Varun Chakravarthy
10. Umesh Yadav
11. Lockie Ferguson

Top Order

KKR could go with the explosive duo of Venkatesh Iyer and R. Gurbaz up top with Shreyas Iyer to follow. Venkatesh Iyer is a maverick versus pace up front and also offers some seam-up bowling. R Gurbaz is a very exciting young talent from Afghanistan and is an investment for the future. He can go at a fair clip but can also ebb the flow of wickets if required. Shreyas Iyer needs no introduction. He is the glue that holds this line up together and can play the role of the anchor very well. 

Middle Order

This is where things get a little complicated for the Calcutta-based franchise. They seem to be overly dependent on the might of Andre Russell. Nitish Rana is infamous around the cricketing world for his inconsistency while Rinku Singh has barely been tested at the highest level. Sunil Narine can chip in with a few handy runs toward the end. However, he is not a reliable option who guarantees match-winning performances with the bat. 

Spinners

This is without a doubt Kolkata’s strongest department. In the form of Varun Chakravarty and Sunil Narine, they have two world-class mystery spinners who are extremely difficult to score against. Nitish Rana can also be a handful on a conducive track and can chip in with a couple of overs. 

Pacers

This is another area of concern for the Knight Riders. Although their pace battery has been strengthened by the arrival of Lockie Ferguson, it still remains a weakness at first glance. Umesh Yadav becomes critical with the new ball. However, it is also to be noted that he is a very limited bowler who cannot be trusted in the death, as has been proven on multiple occasions. The addition of Shardul Thakur via trade will come as a welcome relief for the KKR management. He is a proven wicket-taker in this format and can also provide some handy runs at the fag end of the innings. 

All in all, the retention window has left the KKR management with more questions than answers. They would arrive at the auction venue on the 23rd of next month with a clear plan – to obtain the services of both a quality overseas pacer and an Indian wicketkeeper.