IPL 2023: 5 Players That Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Can Use As Impact Players

Updated - 10 Dec 2022, 02:14 PM

Kolkata Knight Riders (Image: BCCI)

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IPL 2023: 5 Players That Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Can Use As Impact Players. Kolkata Knight Riders have to pick up some key players in the upcoming IPL 2023 Auction. The franchise has the lower remaining purse (7.05 crores ) among all the players in which to buy 11 players three of which are overseas. They have a squad of 14 players at the moment. Each franchise can have up to 25 players on their side.

The IPL 2023 Auction will be held in Kochi on December 23. A total of 991 players are set to go under the hammer in the upcoming IPL 2023 auction. There are 714 Indian players and 277 overseas players in total. 21 players have registered themselves for a base price of 2 crores all of whom are overseas players.

Meanwhile, the BCCI has come up with a new ‘Impact Player’ rule for the upcoming season. The rule was brought into practice in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Upon its successful experiment, the BCCI has decided to use it in the upcoming IPL season as well.

The ‘Impact Player’ rule allows teams to bring in a substitute player in place of any member of the starting XI. Teams taking part in a match will be required to submit the names of four substitutes at the time of toss and teams can only make a change in their playing XI by bringing in a substitute from the list of four players.

IPL, Hardik Pandya — Hardik Pandya. (Photo: IPL)

Also, the ‘Impact Player’ can only replace any member of the starting XI before the end of the 14th over of either innings and the player who has been replaced will no longer be allowed to participate in the match. The ‘Impact Player’ rule is not applicable when the game is reduced to less than 10 overs per side. In this article, we pick five KKR players who can be used as impact players.

IPL 2023: 5 Players That Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Can Use As Impact Players

Varun Chakravarthy

Varun was a revelation for KKR in his first two IPL seasons with the franchise picking up 35 wickets in the two seasons. However, he had a poor show in IPL 2022 where he picked up just six wickets at an economy of 8.51 in 11 matches. Despite his average performance, KKR retained him for IPL 2023. However, KKR can make very good use of the new Impact Player Rule On Varun Chakravarthy, making him bowl his 4 overs and then substitute him for another player.

Also Read: IPL 2023 Auction: ‘Impact Player’ Concept To Be Only For Indians – Reports

Umesh Yadav

Umesh was a revelation for KKR in the last IPL season picking up 16 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 21.19. He was retained ahead of the next auction. The senior Indian bowler can be used as an impact player with the ball either at the start of the innings or during the death overs. Once he finishes his four overs he can be replaced by another player.

Rinku Singh

The UP batter almost won KKR their last league game against Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022. He scored 40 off just 15 balls to score LSG in a closely contested game but could not quite finish the job for KKR. KKR can use him as a finisher with the help of the Impact Player rule given that no overseas players can be used via this rule in the IPL and hence KKR cannot use their established finisher Andre Russell as their finisher.

Shardul Thakur

Thakur was traded from CSK to KKR ahead of the retention. The all-rounder has a habit of breaking partnerships and scoring crucial runs for his team. KKR can use him to break partnerships and in close chases with the bat in the games. It will be really interesting to see how he fits into his new role at KKR.

Venkatesh Iyer

Iyer flourished as an opener in the second half of IPL 2021 with KKR. He scored 370 runs in 10 matched and played a big role in taking KKR to the final of the tournament. In games where KKR needs quick starts, the Knights can use him as an impact player and give him the license to go hard from the start in tough run chases.

Also Read: IPL 2023: 5 Players That Mumbai Indians (MI) Can Use As Impact Players