Kolkata Knight Riders' First-Ever Playing XI- Where Are They Now?

Kolkata Knight Riders are the third-most successive IPL franchise having won the title twice (2012, 2014). They also played the IPL final in 2021 losing the game to the eventual champions Chennai Super Kings. The franchise has a large fan following especially because it is being owned by the Bollywood megastar Shahrukh Khan.

KKR played the very first match in IPL history against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The match is fondly remembered due to Brendon McCullum’s unbeaten 158. The match also brought the IPL to the map of franchise T20 cricket. That game turned out to be a blockbuster and there was no looking back for the league thereafter.

In this article, we will take a look at KKR’s first-ever playing XI and where are they now.

Kolkata Knight Riders: First-Ever Playing XI Then & Now

Sourav Ganguly

Ganguly led the side back in 2008 and scored 10 off 12 balls as KKR balls. All these years later, “Dada” is now the BCCI President and is overlooking developments in the Indian cricket team. It is under his supervision that the team has tasted rich success and some real lows as well. He was recently treated after contracting the Covid virus and is under home isolation at the moment.

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Brendon McCullum

McCullum racked up an unbeaten 158 as KKR scored a massive 222/3 in their 20 overs. They also won the game by 40 runs after bowling out RCB for just 82. Currently, McCullum is the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders and it is under him that the franchise reached the final of IPL 2021. He was roped in as the coach of the side in 2020.

Ricky Ponting

Ponting scored a run-a-ball 20 in the game. He played four games in the first season before leaving for national duty. Currently, he is the coach of Delhi Capitals in the IPL. He also played for Mumbai Indians and also coached the side for a couple of seasons as well. Ponting has had stints with the Australian cricket team as well since his retirement back in 2013.

David Hussey

Hussey scored 319 runs for KKR in 2008 from 14 matches. He played international cricket between 2008-13 playing in the IPL and the BBL alongside. Currently, he is the mentor of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL while the head coach of Melbourne Stars in the BBL. Apart from KKR, Hussey played for Kings Xi Punjab and CSK and well in the IPL.

Mohammad Hafeez

Hafeez was a part of the KKR playing Xi that played in IPL 2008. He announced his international retirement on January 03 2022 after playing the game for 18 years at the top level.

“Today I say goodbye to international cricket with pride and satisfaction. In fact, I have earned and accomplished more than I had initially envisaged and for that, I am thankful to all my fellow cricketers, captains, support staff and the Pakistan Cricket Board who helped me out during my career” Hafeez said in his statement.

Laxmi Ratan Shukla

Wriddhiman Saha

Bengal keeper Wriddhiman Saha made his IPL debut with Kolkata Knight Riders back in 2008. Currently, he is a part of the Indian Test team which is in South Africa to play a Test series. He along with Rishabh Pant are the two specialist keepers that India have in the red-ball format. Saha played for CSK, Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad previously in the IPL.

Ajit Agarkar

Agarkar picked up 8 wickets from 9 matches for KKR in IPL 2008. Thereafter he played for Delhi Daredevils as well. He finally announced his international retirement back in 2013 and has taken up a role in cricket commentary. He was a regular member of the Indian team between 1998-2007.

Ashok Dinda

Dinda had a fairly decent IPL 2008, where he picked up 8 wickets from 13 matches at a miserly economy rate of 6.67. In Kolkata Knight Rider’s maiden IPL match, Dinda bowled an economical spell of 9/2 from three overs.

The veteran Bengal pacer made it to the Indian national team courtesy of his stints in the IPL with KKR, Pune Warriors India and Rising Pune Supergiant. He announced his international retirement last year and does commentary in the IPL for Star Sports Bangla.

Murali Kartik

Despite being in the playing XI, Kartik did not get his opportunity with the ball as the KKR pacers wrapped up the opposition batsmen for a paltry score. Apart from KKR, he played for Kartik played for India between 2000 -2007 and is now a well-established commentator.

Ishant Sharma

Ishant picked up one wicket in KKR’s first-ever IPL game dismissing the now head coach of the Indian cricket team Rahul Dravid. Since playing his debut game for KKR, Ishant Sharma has gone up to be one of India’s most successful pacers playing over 100 Test matches for his country. Like Saha, he is also currently with the Indian team which is playing a Test series against South Africa.

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