IPL 2023 Auction: Three Overseas Openers Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Can Target

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) retained 14 players ahead of the IPL 2023 auction set to be held in Kochi on December 2023. They also have the least remaining purse (7.05Cr) heading into the auction.

With the release of Ajinkya Rahane, Aaron Finch, and Sam Billings, KKR does not have regular openers in the players that they have retained. They have three overseas slots available and they can pick at least one opener to complete one of the three slots. 

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For IPL 2023 retention, all the franchises can retain a maximum of 15 players in their squads. All the franchises need to have at least 18 or a maximum of 25 players for the upcoming IPL 2023 season. To further break up the list of players participating in the IPL 2023  auction, the list includes 185 capped, 786 uncapped, and 20 from Associate Nations.

21 players registered for a base price of 2 crores all of whom are overseas players. There are several reputed overseas openers in that category and also in the 1 crore category. In this article, we pick three overseas openers KKR can target. 

IPL 2023 Auction: Three Overseas Openers Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Can Target

1) Chris Lynn

KKR ideally needs an explosive opener at the top of the order who can provide them with quick starts. Chris Lynn might be the right man for the job. The former KKR player is currently playing his trade in the Abu Dhabi T10 League.

He is the highest run-getter in the BBL and one who has performed consistently for KKR during the time that he played. Lynn scored 1274 runs in 40 matches that he has played for KKR in the past. This includes 10 fifties scored at a strike rate of over 140. 

Also Read: IPL 2023 Auction: 3 Players Released By Kolkata Knight Riders That Royal Challengers Bangalore Can Target

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2) Martin Guptill 

Guptill’s central contract with the New Zealand national team is over which means that he will now be available for a full IPL season. This is where KKR has a chance to buy him as the other franchises might not consider buying him due to his age. Despite being on the wrong side of the 30s.

Guptill is still amongst the highest-run getters in T20I cricket. He is currently ranked third in the all-time list with 3531 runs in 122 matches at a strike rate of nearly 140. The Kiwi opener was benched throughout the T20 World Cup 2022. 

3) Tom Latham

Latham recently notched up his highest ODI score against India in the recently concluded series The Kiwi batter can open the batting for KKR. He can be also used as a backup keeper as Kolkata have just one specialist keeper on their side at the moment. The southpaw has not cracked a deal in the IPL and KKR might be just the right team for him given the kind of player he is.

He has just played 15 games scoring over 300 runs at a healthy strike rate of 110. Latham bats in the middle order for his national side. However, he started his career as an opener and certainly can open the innings at KKR.

Also Read: IPL 2023 Auction: Dwayne Bravo Bids Adieu To IPL, Named CSK Bowling Coach

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