IPL 2021 Auction: Gautam Gambhir Points Out The Weakness In The KKR Squad

Former India cricketer, Gautam Gambhir believes that the Kolkata Knight Riders lack high-quality Indian batsmen, other than Shubman Gill in their top order after the IPL 2021 Auction on Thursday.

Gautam Gambhir, who led KKR to two IPL titles, points out that other than opener Shubman Gill, the Knight Riders don’t have any Indian batsman in the top order on who they can bank on – hence, once again they have to be highly dependent on their middle-order comprising of Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, who is injury prone, and Dinesh Karthik, who had a disappointing season last year.

“Indian batting is a huge problem for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Apart from Shubman Gill and to a certain extent Nitish Rana, I don’t see so much quality. Dinesh Karthik bats too low in the batting lineup, he has had a horrible season last time around,” Gautam Gambhir said on Star Sports.

“That is the reason they will be very much dependent on Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell. Andre Russell needs to fire if they need to be competitive. They need to win the tournament, it’s been 6-7 years since they haven’t won the tournament. You can look very good on paper but they haven’t been that consistent,” he added.

KKR could have bought Kedar Jadhav: Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir asserts that the franchise could have roped in Kedar Jadhav to add the experience of an Indian batsman but they got Karun Nair and Rahul Tripathi was retained, both of whom are more suited at the top, and that Jadhav could have been a good back-up for Karthik if he has a poor season.

The 39-year-old former opener observes that still there is no surety on who will partner Shubman Gill at the top – whether it would be Sunil Narine, or Nitish Rana, or Tripathi, or anyone else.

“Had they probably had a little better Indian batting lineup, probably someone like a Kedar Jadhav, yes they went for someone like an experienced Karun Nair. But Kedar Jadhav could have given them that little bit of firepower in the middle order.

“They have got Rahul Tripathi and Karun Nair but Karun Nair is probably more suited to bat at the top of the order. So from that point of view, I feel a little bit of chink in the armor.”

“Who are they going to open with? Are they going to open with Sunil Narine again with Shubman Gill? Do they have that much firepower at the top of the order because Eoin Morgan at 4, Dinesh Karthik at 5, and Andre Russell is still the middle order,” Gambhir further added.

Also Read: IPL 2021 Auction: VVS Laxman Names 2 Players Whom SunRisers Hyderabad Wanted To Buy