IPL 2021: 5 Players Who Can Make Their Debut For Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) This Year

Kolkata Knight Riders will play their first match of IPL 2021 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 11, 2021. Kolkata Knight Riders finished on the 5th spot in IPL 2020. The team won the IPL titles twice in 2012 and 2014 and has some strong players in the squad. The Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Ahead of IPL 2021 auction, Kolkata Knight Riders bid goodbye to six players from the squad who were Chris Green, Harry Gurney, M Siddharth, Nikhil Naik, Siddhesh Lad, and Tom Banton. The franchisee backed their crucial players in the team but also bought 8 new players in IPL 2021 auction. Out of these, many few players have joined the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the first time. Here we look at 5 players who can make a debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021.

IPL 2021: 5 Players Who Can Make Their Debut For Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) This Year

Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh was bought for Rs. 2 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021 auction. The Indian spinner was released by Chennai Super Kings ahead of IPL 2021 auction, after playing for the team since IPL 2018. He did not play in IPL 2020 as he opted out due to personal reasons. Earlier, Harbhajan played for Mumbai Indians from IPL 2008 to IPL 2017. He also led the team for some matches in the initial IPL seasons. The off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has played 160 matches in IPL and grabbed 150 wickets. He is the 5th highest wicket-taker in the tournament.

Ben Cutting

Kolkata Knight Riders bought Ben Cutting for Rs. 75 lakh during IPL 2021 auction. Ben Cutting is an all-rounder from Australia who has also played at the international level. He was part of Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2014, Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2016 and IPL 2017 and Mumbai Indians in IPL 2018 and IPL 2019. He has played 21 matches in IPL so far with 10 wickets and 238 runs in total. He will play for Kolkata Knight Riders for the time in IPL 2021.

Karun Nair

Karun Nair became part of Kolkata Knight Riders after the franchise bought him for Rs. 50 lakh in IPL 2020 auction. Karun Nair is a middle-order batsman who has been a consistent part of IPL since 2013. Karun Nair has played 73 matches in IPL so far and scored 1480 runs along with 10 half-centuries. He has played for teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings in the past. In IPL 2021, he will start an afresh journey with Kolkata Knight Riders.

Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer is another all-rounder whom Kolkata Knight Riders bought in IPL 2021 auction. He is a left-handed batsman and right-arm bowler. This is his debut IPL season. He has played 38 T20 matches for Madhya Pradesh at the domestic level in which he has scored 724 runs at an average of 36. He has also scalped 21 wickets. Venkatesh Iyer is another player who can be given a chance to debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021.

Vaibhav Arora

All-rounder Vaibhav Arora was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs. 20 lakh during IPL 2021 auction. The 23-year-old cricketer plays for Himachal Pradesh at the domestic level. He is a right-handed batsman who has played 8 First-Class, 4 List A, and 6 T20s games so far. He has taken 10 wickets in T20s while 29 wickets in his First-Class career. He is another player who can make a debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021.