KKR needed to fill 11 slots in the IPL 2023 auction held in Kochi on December 23. The franchise retained 14 players and released as many as 15 players during the retention window. They headed into the auction with the lower remaining purse (7.05 crores) and had to fill in 11 slots three of which were overseas.
Kolkata Knight Riders finished seventh under Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2022 with six wins and eight losses. The franchise released some big names ahead of the auction. Aaron Finch was released by the franchise along with Alex Hales and Pat Cumins both of whom pulled out from IPL 2023.
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Along with them, the franchise released the likes of Mohammad Nabi, Chamika Karunaratne, and Sam Billings. The franchise traded in Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans and Shardul Thakur from Delhi Capitals.
With Finch and Hales not available, KKR needed an explosive opener at the top of the order someone like Chris Lynn. They also needed a backup wicketkeeper for Gurbaz preferably an Indian. Also, they needed an Indian seamer and spin option and an all-rounder as backup options for Andre Russell.
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Kolkata Knight Riders managed to buy 8 players in the auction from their remaining purse. They managed to compile a squad of 22 players and still had 4.15 crores remaining in their purse. In this article, we take a look at three worst players KKR invested in the IPL 2023 auction.
IPL 2023: 3 Worst Buys By Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) In The Auction
Kulwant Khejroliya
The Delhi pacer was roped in for 20 lakhs by the franchise. Khejroliya played two seasons prior to this which was IPL 2018 and 2019 for RCB. He played a total of five games in the two seasons picking up just three wickets. The left-arm pacer is aging 32 at the moment and has not played too much domestic cricket as well. He has played just 18 T20s and 14 FC games. With Kolkata having a well-rounded bowling attack, Khejroliya might be benched throughout the season.
