IPL 2023 Auction: 3 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Players Punjab Kings (PBKS) Can Target

IPL 2023 Auction: 3 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Players Punjab Kings (PBKS) 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.

After the IPL 2022 mega auction, the cricket legends weighted Punjab Kings among the probable teams to reach the playoff and even win the IPL trophy. The reason was that they had a very good team comprising a bunch of talented utility players who could single-handedly win matches for the franchise.

But, after the IPL league stage finished, the Mayank Agarwal-led team found themselves packing their bags with just 7 wins from 14 matches, finishing the IPL 2022 points table in the 6^th position. There will be a lot of brainstorming from now leading up to the 16^th edition of the IPL. The likes of Shahrukh Khan, Benny Howell, Sandeep Sharma, Vaibhav Arora, and even IPL 2022 skipper Mayank Agarwal may be released by the franchise.

According to several reports, the Mohali-based franchise is eyeing to release three expensive buys – Mayank Agarwal (INR 12 crore), Shahrukh Khan (INR 9 crore), and Odean Smith (INR 6 crore) – so that they will enter the mini-auction with a big purse.

Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has been confirmed as the new captain of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) franchise for the forthcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on Wednesday. Shikhar Dhawan, who was not a part of the Indian T20I World Cup 2022 squad and is considered an ODI specialist and ODI skipper nowadays will replace another opener Mayank Agarwal as the leader of the Punjab-based franchise in the IPL 2023.

IPL 2023 Auction: 3 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Players Punjab Kings (PBKS) 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, Punjab Kings 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 has failed to do well in IPL 2022. In seven games this IPL 2022, Ajinkya Rahane has 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 Punjab Kings (PBKS) 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, Punjab Kings might acquire the pacer in IPL 2023.