IPL 2021 Auction: 3 Players That Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Will Target

The two-time IPL winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have recently struggled to perform consistently. So, they will see the IPL 2021 auction as a massive opportunity to pick up some fresh talents and regain their previous dominant status in the IPL.

In the last two IPL season, Kolkata Knight Riders just missed out to qualify for the playoffs as they finished as the fifth best team in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons. KKR, who changed their leadership in the middle of the IPL 2020 from Dinesh Karthik to Eoin Morgan, have just released Chris Green, Harry Gurney, M Siddharth, Nikhil Naik, Siddhesh Lad and Tom Banton.

Ahead of the IPL 2021 auction, Kolkata Knight Riders have eight slots available, including two overseas slots. So, they will give more importance to pick up the Indian talents during the IPL 2021 auction.

Currently, KKR requires at least a good opening batsman, a good all-rounder, a good spin bowler etc.

IPL 2021 Auction: 3 players that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will target

Alex Carey

Delhi Capitals recently released Australian wicket-keeper batsman Alex Carey for his weak performance in the IPL 2020. Playing his first IPL tournament in the 2020 edition, Carey scored 32 runs in three matches.

However, their is no doubt that Carey is improving as a batsman. In the recent BBL 2020/21, Carey showed some excellent form as an opening batsman as he has scored 412 runs in 12 matches, including one century and two half-centuries. After Carey was released by Delhi Capitals, he slammed a century in the BBL on the very next day.

While Shubman Gill is performing well as a KKR opener, Carey can be a good opening partner of him. Moreover, the Aussie cricketer can be used as a back-up wicket-keeper, despite have New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Tim Seifert.

Shivam Dube

While Andre Russell had a hard time in the IPL 2020, KKR will be happy to add one pace-bowling all-rounder in the squad. Indian cricketer Shivam Dube can be a good option in this case as he is now growing up as an useful all-rounder.

Recently in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020/21, Mumbai all-rounder Dube scored 161 runs in five matches (average 40.25; strike-rate 138.79), including one half-century, and also got 3 wickets.

In the IPL 2020, Dube scored 129 runs and got 4 wickets in 11 matches. Due to his weak performances, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) recently released him. But while he has a good opportunity to improve, KKR can target him during the IPL 2021 auction.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman

Spin-bowling plays a very crucial role for KKR. Though the Indian leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy highly impressed during the IPL 2020, while the Caribbean off-spinner Sunil Narine and Indian left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav are now hugely struggling to perform consistently, they require to add some good spinners, at least for the back-up option.

Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman can be a good option for this spot. He has picked up 145 wickets in 132 T20 matches. Despite 19-year-old, he has already huge experience by participating in various T20 leagues. Mujeeb has the ability to perform consistently. He is also very useful in the powerplays.

In IPL career, Mujeeb has got 17 wickets in 18 matches. Recently, Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) has released him before the IPL 2021 auction. So, KKR has the big opportunity to grab this talent in very early age.