IPL 2024: As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 gears up for its auction on December 19 in Dubai, teams are strategically planning their rosters. Among these, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a team renowned for its association with Bollywood superstars Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, has announced their list of retained and released players, marking their preparation for the upcoming season.
KKR, the celebrated two-time IPL champions of 2012 and 2014, has made some decisive changes to their squad ahead of the IPL auction. They have released a significant number of players, including some big names, signaling a major revamp in their team structure.
IPL 2024: Under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, who missed the last season due to injury, KKR is looking to make a strong comeback. Nitish Rana, who stepped in as captain in Iyer’s absence, is set to continue with the team. Adding to the leadership and strategic depth, Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the team mentor for the next season. In total, KKR has decided to release 12 players, indicating a shift in their approach and team dynamics.
The released players include Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, David Wiese, Arya Desai, N Jagadeesan, Mandeep Singh, Kulwant Khejroliya, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, and Johnson Charles. This move signifies KKR’s intention to bring in fresh talent and possibly focus on a different team composition to enhance their performance in IPL 2024.
IPL 2024: On the retention front, KKR has kept a core group of players, ensuring stability and experience in the team. They have retained captain Shreyas Iyer, middle-order batsman Nitish Rana, and key finisher Rinku Singh. Additionally, the Kolkata franchise has shown faith in Venkatesh Iyer and Varun Chakravarthy, who form a crucial part of their Indian core.
The list of retained players includes Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shreyas Iyer, Jason Roy, Sunil Narine, Suyyash Sharma, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakravarthy. This balanced mix of experienced and emerging talent could provide KKR the necessary edge in the upcoming season.
IPL 2024: With these strategic releases and retentions, KKR is positioning itself to challenge for the title in IPL 2024. Their decisions reflect a blend of strategic overhaul and faith in existing talents, setting the stage for an exciting season ahead.
Image Credit – mykhel
