IPL Auction 2022: 5 Bengal Players Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Can Target

The IPL 2022 mega auction will be held on February 12 and 13 in Bengaluru. Kolkata Knight Riders have 48 crores in their purse in which to build a strong squad. They retained Andre Russell (INR 12 crore), Varun Chakravarthy (INR 8 crore), Venkatesh Iyer (INR 8 crore), Sunil Narine (INR 6 crore) ahead of the mega auction. For a long time, KKR have had no Bengal player playing for them in the IPL.

In the upcoming IPL 2022 mega auction, they can look to rope in a few players from Bengal who have been in the vicinity for a few years now. Kolkata Knight Riders have 21 slots to fill up out of which six are for overseas players. This is going to be a crucial auction for KKR knowing that this might be the last of the mega auctions. Here is a list of five Bengal cricketers that Kolkata Knight Riders might target.

IPL Auction 2022: 5 Bengal Players Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Can Target

Wriddhiman Saha

Saha is 37 years of age but has enough experience of playing in the IPL He has played for a number of franchises in the last including KKR in the formative years of the IPL. Saha can open the batting and also can keep it for the side. With the franchise on the lookout for an experienced opener and keeper option, Saha can fit the bill perfectly. He has played 133 games in the IPL and has a few more years of cricket left in him.

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Mohammed Shami

Shami has moved to Bengal from UP and prospered as a cricket. He started his IPL career with Kolkata Knight Riders and then went on to play for Delhi and Punjab. He is now one of India’s most consistent bowlers across formats. He plays more of red-ball cricket but can be an asset in white-ball cricket as well. With KKR on the lookout for an experienced Indian seamer, Shami can lead the attack for the two-time IPL champions.

Shahbaz Ahmed

Ahmed made his presence felt for RCB in IPL 2021. He played 13 matches for the franchise and contributed with bat and ball. His best outing was against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the India’s leg at Chepauk taking 3/7 and helping RCB to a win. Ahmed has been in form for Bengal during the 2021-22 Vijay Hazare Trophy, amassing 227 runs, including a century and a half-century, in five innings. He also picked up six wickets in the tournament.

Ishan Porel

Porel is a former U-19 World Cup winner in 2018. He has been a consistent part of Bengal’s bowling lineup in domestic cricket. Making his debut for Bengal in 2017, Ishan Porel took 67 first-class wickets and 47 List A wickets. Porel has been constantly travelling with the India A squad on various tours. He was bought by Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2020 but was given only one game over a period of two years.

Manoj Tiwary

The former Bengal skipper registered himself at a base price of 50 lakhs in the IPL 2022 mega auction. He scored 1695 runs, including 7 fifties and also has a wicket against his name. Tiwary last played for Punjab in IPL 2018. Since retiring from international cricket, Tiwary has joined politics and is the current Sports Minister of West Bengal. Earlier this year, Manoj Tiwary was named in the 21-man Bengal squad for Ranji Trophy before the tournament was rescheduled.

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