IPL 2023 Auction: 3 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Players Delhi Capitals (DC) Can Target

IPL 2023 Auction: 3 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Players Delhi Capitals (DC) Can Target.  Kolkata Knight Riders started well in IPL 2022 but later lost their way. It was expected considering the gaps in the squad. With a new coach at the helm, the franchise would look to start afresh. They will have to be active in the trade window to improve their squad ahead of the next season.

Changing of the captain didn’t bring KKR any luck as Shreyas Iyer’s side finished in the bottom half of the table. KKR had done poorly at last year’s auction and so their results weren’t surprising. They need to do better at this year’s auction to bounce back in the IPL. The likes of Aaron Finch, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Sharma, Shivam Mavi, Pratham Singh, and Ramesh Kumar may be released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2023 auctions.

Kolkata Knight Riders appointed Chandrakant Pandit as their new Head Coach for IPL 2023 and beyond, replacing New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum. Chandrakant Pandit is a high-profile coach in the Indian domestic circuit, having won trophies with Mumbai, Vidharba, and Madhya Pradesh. He is known to get the best out of his cricketers.

KKR traded New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson and Afghanistan wicket-keeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans (GT) ahead of the IPL 2023 mini-auction next month. KKR added another big name to their squad in India allrounder Shardul Thakur who leaves Delhi Capitals to join the two-time champions in an all-cash deal.

Sam Billings has pulled out of IPL 2023, where he was expected to be a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad, saying that his focus is on the longer format with Kent, his county.

Two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were looking to release Pat Cummins ahead of the IPL 2023 upcoming mini-auction. But before they could have pronounced their decision, the Australian Test & ODI captain informed KKR that he is not looking to return for IPL 2023. KKR will add 7.25 Cr in their player purse with Pat Cummins’s released from the squad.

Delhi Capitals who still wait to enlist their name in the IPL winners list ended up in 5th position in the last IPL season. Delhi Capitals have won 7 games in the 14 games they played and pushed to 5th position in the IPL 2022 Points Table with a total point of 14. GMR Sports Pvt. Ltd & JSW Sports Pvt Ltd owned team have been inconsistent throughout the IPL 2022 season.

It is learned that ahead of IPL 2023 auction, all teams are asked to submit their final list of retained players by November 15, 2022. In order to avoid a massive collapse all teams will look to retain their star performers and will release the rest. It is expected that all teams will retain a maximum of 15 players ahead of the tournament. The likes of Mandeep Singh, Lalit Yadav, Pravin Dubey, and Ripal Patel may be released by the franchise before IPL 2023.

India fast bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur is set to turn up for Kolkata Knight Riders in the next edition of the Indian Premier League 2023 as his former franchise Delhi Capitals traded him for uncapped Mumbai all-rounder Aman Khan.

IPL 2023 Auction: 3 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Players Delhi Capitals (DC) Can Target

Aaron Finch

Kolkata Knight Riders signed Aaron Finch as a replacement for England batter Alex Hales for the IPL 2022. Aaron Finch – Australia’s ICC T20 World Cup-winning captain in 2021 joined KKR at the price of INR 1.5 crore.

When it comes to IPL, Aaron Finch is no stranger having played for eight other franchises since his IPL debut in 2010. When he turns up for KKR, it will be his ninth IPL franchise that he will be representing. However, Aaron Finch only managed 86 runs in 5 T20Is in IPL 2022 averaging a mere 17.2 and if he’s released by KKR, Delhi Capitals may try to acquire his services in IPL 2023.

Aaron Finch had already retired from ODIs but is playing T20Is. He has played 92 IPL games scoring 2091 runs averaging 25.91.

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane failed to do well in IPL 2022. In seven IPL 2022 games, Ajinkya Rahane managed to score only 133 runs. He also suffered an injury during Kolkata Knight Riders’ game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, on May 14. Ajinkya Rahane has been a prolific run-scorer at the top order in the past and he could well be the perfect foil for aggressive opening partners.

Punjab Kings might go all out to acquire the 34-year-old senior batter’s services in IPL 2023. He has amassed 4074 runs in 158 games averaging 30.86. He may be released by Kolkata Knight Riders before IPL 2023 and Delhi Capitals may try to obtain his services.

Shivam Mavi

Shivam Mavi, the Indian pacer made his IPL debut for KKR in 2018 but picked up just 5 wickets in IPL 2018. A stress fracture in his back ruled him out of playing competitive cricket since December 2019 and after spending most of his time in rehab, Shivam Mavi was fit and raring to go in the IPL 2020 edition.

He played in 8 games and picked up 9 wickets in the 2020 IPL season and in the IPL 2021 edition, he picked up 11 wickets that included a 4-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals. Kolkata Knight Riders had immense faith in Shivam Mavi over the years and he was brought back for a whopping INR 7.25 crore in IPL 2022 auctions.

However, he didn’t perform up to expectations in IPL 2022 picking only 5 scalps in 6 games averaging over 45 and conceding runs at an economy rate of more than 10 last season. Shivam Mavi is expected to be released by Kolkata Knight Riders and if they do so, Delhi Capitals might acquire the pacer in IPL 2023.