Shreyas Iyer led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a forgettable Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season as they failed to qualify for the playoffs. The 2-time IPL champions finished in the 7th position in the points table and the lack of stability at the top-order was one of the main reasons why KKR’s batting did not click. The upcoming IPL 2023 auction will be a great chance for KKR to add a few good batters to their ranks.
KKR has let go of 3 of their openers in the form of Aaron Finch, Ajinkya Rahane and Alex Hales. They would therefore be aiming to tighten their batting screws and would be looking to get hold off a few good batters in the upcoming IPL 2023 auction.
While the IPL 2023 auction is a mini one and there won’t be a lot of players in the mix, a few quality batters have been either released by their respective franchises or they have put their names in the mix.
In this article, we take a look at 3 batters KKR can target in the upcoming IPL 2023 auction which will be held in Kochi:
1. Manish Pandey
Having previously played for KKR between 2014 and 2017, Manish Pandey was a part of KKR’s title winning sojourn in 2014. He played an integral role in the final and was awarded the player of the match award for his top-notch knock of 94 in just 50 deliveries. Post KKR, Pandey had plied for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). He failed to leave an impression on the new LSG franchise in IPL 2022 and was subsequently released by them. KKR can ideally have Manish Pandey during the IPL 2023 auction as he is a solid and compact batter, with truckloads of experience under his belt.
2. Mayank Agarwal
Former Punjab Kings (PBKS) opener Mayank Agarwal had a dismal IPL 2022 season. His batting form took a dip and he scored just 196 runs in 13 games. Post this he was released by his franchise and he is back in the IPL 2023 auction pool. Since KKR need a solid opener, they can bid for Mayank Agarwal. The Indian Test opener can be a good addition to the ranks of KKR at the top order.
3. Phil Salt
Having released Sheldon Jackson, KKR desperately need a backup wicket-keeper. They already have traded in Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans (GT) and would be needing a backup option for him. Phil Salt would be a great addition to the squad of KKR as the 26-year-old English batter is a swashbuckling and explosive opener. He can provide some fiery starts in the powerplay and has a career strike-rate of 161.2 in T20Is for England.
Also read: IPL 2023: 3 Reasons Why KKR Might Win The Next Edition Of IPL
