IPL 2021 2nd Phase: Strongest Playing XI Of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Without English Players

After CSK and RR, Kolkata Knight Riders is another side that will miss English players in the rescheduled IPL 2021. KKR skipper Eoin Morgan will not be available for the remaining season as per ECB’s announcement on the unavailability of their players in the UAE leg of IPL 2021. This means Dinesh Karthik will probably be selected as the skipper for the side in the remaining leg.

KKR did not have the best of starts in IPL 2021 winning just two matches out of their first seven under Morgan. With his lack of form in the middle-order, Morgan might not be a big miss for the side especially with the likes of Tim Seifert and Ben Cutting waiting to replace him in the line-up.

IPL 2021 2nd Phase: Strongest Playing XI Of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Without English Players

Shubman Gill

Gill will return to opening the batting for KKR when IPL returns to the UAE. He scored 132 runs in the first seven games. He has been struggling with his form in the first seven games. He scored over 400 runs last year with the IPL being played in the UAE. Back again for the second half in 2021, Gill has seven more matches to stake his claims as one of India’s future.

Nitish Rana

Rana scored the maximum number of runs for KKR in the first seven games. He was the only batsman in the side to score over 200 runs. he formed a good partnership with Gill, however, as a duo, they lacked consistency. Rana will look to get back into his old form like he did at the start of the season.

Sunil Narine

Narine can be best utilized with the bat in the first 10 overs. Thus if he is to be played in the XI, he should be sent in to bat at number three, best as an opener. However, KKR would not like to break the opening combination which also helps them to maintain a right-left combination. thus Narine is KKR’s best fit at number three.

Dinesh Karthik

Karthik is likely to be reappointed as the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders in Morgan’s absence. Morgan replaced Karthik midway through IPL 2020 and now Karthik is likely to replace him. He should bat at number four and finish games off for KKR.

Also Read: Dinesh Karthik Ready To Captain KKR Again In IPL 2021 If Need Arises

Andre Russell

Russell has always batted at different batting positions for KKR. In many games, he has batted ahead of Karthik, while in some games below Karthik. Russell’s batting position has been a big dilemma for the side and will continue to be so. He can either bat at number four or five exchanging roles with Karthik as per the game situation.

Ben Cutting

Cutting with his fierce ability to hit the ball can be Morgan’s ideal replacement. he is yet to make his KKR debut and the second phase of IPL 2021 gives the Kolkata Knight Riders management to make use of his batting potential at number six.

Rahul Tripathi

Tripathi can be used at number seven given that he is a busy player and always looks to score runs. Along with Rana’s 201, Tripathi scored 187 runs for the side in the first half of the season. He will thus have a license to hit the ball from the start given that he will mostly bat in the death overs batting at number seven.

Varun Chakravarty

The mystery spinner took seven wickets in the first seven games. He will continue to be the first-choice spinner along with Sunil Narine. Both together can be a difficult combination for the opposition to handle. They can also make use of the longer boundaries to fetch them wickets.

Prasidh Krishna

Krishna tasted success playing for the Indian cricket team just ahead of IPL 2021. He picked 8 wickets in the first seven games and played ahead of the likes of Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti. In the UAE leg as well, he will be the first choice among the three young quicks that the Kolkata Knight Riders management has placed faith in.

Lockie Ferguson

Ferguson can replace Pat Cummins in the line-up who has confirmed his unavailability for the rest of the season. He picked up six wickets from five games for his side last game in the season which included a Super Over win against SRH. With Cummins missing, Kolkata Knight Riders would need Ferguson to step up big time.

Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh can replace Shakib Al Hasan in the XI who will not be released by the BCB for the remaining IPL season. The veteran spinner thus completes in what looks like the best XI Kolkata Knight Riders can field in the UAE leg of IPL 2021.

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