IPL 2022 Auction: 3 Openers Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Can Target

Kolkata Knight Riders will head into the IPL 2022 mega auction with a remaining purse of 48 crores. The auction will be held across February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru. KKR retained Andre Russell (INR 12 crore), Varun Chakravarthy (INR 8 crore), Venkatesh Iyer (INR 8 crore), Sunil Narine (INR 6 crore). With Iyer, the one opening spot is fixed.

However, KKR are on the lookout for an experienced opener who can anchor the innings at the top. Since Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa left the side, various players were tried at the top but no one was as consistent as the former KKR skipper.

A total of 590 players will go under the hammer at the auction. This includes several reputed openers. Among the 590 players, 370 are Indian and the rest 220 are overseas players.

Two new teams have been added to the IPL which makes this a 10-team tournament from 2022. Meanwhile, in this article, we will take a look at three openers KKR can possibly target at the IPL 2022 mega auction.

IPL 2022 Auction: 3 Openers Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Can Target

Faf Du Plessis

Faf Du Plessis has scored a hefty amount of runs against KKR in the IPL over the years. The franchise can rope him in at the auction and can ask him to get a few runs for them from here on. Du Plessis ended up the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2020. He also scored over 400 runs in IPL 2020 for CSK.

With KKR looking for a potential skipper, Du Plessis with his experience might just be the man to take them forward. He has quality leadership experience and having played under MS Dhoni for several years, he has learned the nuances of captaincy. The former Protean skipper is 37 now and his age might make the franchises think hard before buying him.

He still has at least three years of cricket left in him given his fitness and agility as Kolkata Knight Riders can make use of them, make a team with him as captain and then identify someone who can take the team forward.

Also Read: IPL 2022 Auction: 5 Oldest Players Who Will Be A Part of the Mega Auction

Shikhar Dhawan

Among the Indian openers, every franchise is bound to go for Shikhar Dhawan. He is one of the most experienced players to still play in the league overall and in the last three years he has rediscovered his batting form. The southpaw 1726 runs in the last three years scoring 12 fifties and two hundreds in the meantime. Dhawan provides a solid opening option at the top and also has the potential to lead a side as well. Keeping all these traits in mind, Kolkata Knight Riders should think of investing in Dhawan in the long run.

Jonny Bairstow

KKR are also looking for a wicketkeeper apart from an opener. Jonny Bairstow fulfills both roles perfectly. His record in the IPL is impeccable. Since 2019 he has scored 1038 runs in the league with seven fifties and a hundred. He is a very experienced international cricketer and can bat according to the situation. He also can be flexible in the batting order. Though he does not have any experience of leading a side yet he can be a part of the team’s leadership group.

Also Read: IPL 2022 Auction: Complete List Of Players Registered At INR 75 Lakh Base Price