Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI If 5 Overseas Players Are Allowed In IPL

IPL 2022 might witness some new changes in the format. The tournament might see the addition of two new teams as BCCI has asserted that two more new franchises can become part of the tournament next year. IPL franchises have also urged BCCI to increase the limit of overseas players in the playing XI to 5.

Currently, only 4 overseas players can be part of the team in a match. The rest of the players should be domestic players, who can be capped or uncapped.

Kolkata Knight Riders have Eoin Morgan as their skipper. Since Morgan is an overseas player, he is the confirmed player in the playing XI and the Kolkata Knight Riders can only choose three more foreign players. If the rule of overseas players in the playing XI increases to 5, KKR will be able to induct one more overseas player.

This will help them to come up with a stronger team of playing XI. Here we look at Kolkata Knight Riders predicted playing XI if 5 overseas players are allowed in IPL.

Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI If 5 Overseas Players Are Allowed In IPL

Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana should be the first player in the playing XI and he should be the opener. The left-handed batsman Rana has done a commendable job as an opener in the past few seasons. In IPL 2021, he was the highest run-scorer for KKR with 201 runs in 7 matches while hitting two half-centuries. In the last four seasons of IPL, Rana has managed to cross 300 runs in every tournament. Overall, he has played 67 matches in IPL so far and scored 1638 runs with 13 fifties.

Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill should be the other opener with Nitish Rana. Shubman Gill made his international debut last year in December during the Test series against Australia. He was able to impress fans with his batting, scoring 2 half-centuries during the three Tests he played. He also hit another fifty during the Test series against England later. In IPL 2021, he could only score 132 runs in 7 matches. However, last season, he had a good record with batting, scoring 440 runs in 14 matches for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Rahul Tripathi

Rahul Tripathi should be the no.3 batsman in Kolkata Knight Riders. Tripathi has scored 1175 runs in 52 matches in IPL so far at an average of 25.54. He has also hit 6 fifties. In IPL 2021, he scored 187 runs in 7 matches along with 1 fifty. He has managed to give good support in batting at the no.3 spot.

Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan should be the skipper of the team as he is the most experienced captain in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad. Eoin Morgan had a tough time in batting in IPL 2021 except for an unbeaten 47-run knock in one match. He scored 92 runs in 7 matches. However, he has a good record in IPL. In 73 matches, Morgan has scored 1364 runs along with 5 fifties.

Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik should be the wicketkeeper for the Kolkata Knight Riders. Karthik is the most experienced Indian player in the team considering the matches for the national team and playing in IPL. In 184 innings in the Indian Premier League, he has scored 3946 runs along with 19 half-centuries. Also, he has the second-highest dismissals as a wicketkeeper in IPL after MS Dhoni.

Andre Russell

Andre Russell should be the 2^nd overseas player that Kolkata Knight Riders should pick in the squad. Russell is among the most aggressive batsmen in IPL. He has the highest batting strike rate of 179+. In 68 innings, he has scored 1680 runs with 9 half-centuries. In IPL 2021, he scored 163 runs in 7 matches along with a fifty. He is also a useful bowler for the team.

Shakib Al Hasan

Kolkata Knight Riders bought Shakib Al Hasan during IPL 2021 auction. He should be the 3rd overseas player in the squad. He is a fine all-rounder who can also bowl if the need arises. In 49 innings, Shakib has scored 784 runs with two fifties. He has also picked 61 wickets in 65 innings.

Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins should be the 4th overseas player in Kolkata Knight Riders’ playing XI. Pat Cummins is a bowling all-rounder. The world no.1 Test bowler Cummins has the ability to disturb opposition batsmen with his pace. He has scalped 38 wickets in 37 matches so far in IPL. In IPL 2021, he picked 9 wickets in 7 matches. He also smashed a quickfire fifty (66*) against Chennai Super Kings and managed to take KKR closer to victory with his thrilling finish.

Lockie Ferguson

Lockie Ferguson should be the 5^th overseas player in the KKR team. The New Zealand pacer has only got few opportunities to play in IPL far. In 14 matches, he has scalped 11 wickets at an economy of 8.5. For Kolkata Knight Riders, he picked played in two seasons IPL 2020 and IPL 2019, picking 8 wickets in 10 matches. With his international experience, Furguson can be a crucial pacer in the team.

Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna should be the other pacer for Kolkata Knight Riders. Prasidh Krishna recently made his international debut in an ODI against England. In IPL, Krishna has played 31 matches, in which he scalped 26 wickets. In IPL 2021, he picked 8 wickets in 7 matches. Among the domestic pacers, Prasidh Krishna is the best choice for Kolkata Knight Riders.

Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy should be the spin bowler that Kolkata Knight Riders should induct in the playing XI. Varun Chakravarthy was impressive last year when he picked 17 wickets in 13 games in IPL 2020. In IPL 2021, he picked 7 wickets in 7 matches. He also has a good economy of 7.34 so far in IPL. In 21 matches in the tournament so far, he has picked 25 wickets.