Kolkata Knight Riders 2024: Probable Playing 11, Full Squad, Key Additions

Title Winning Years in IPL: 2012 | 2014

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) approach the IPL 2024 season with a strategic focus on reinforcing key areas and maintaining a competitive edge. The post-auction phase has brought in new faces, each chosen with a specific purpose in mind.

KKR2024 Pre-Auction Challenges:

What They Needed?

KKR identified several key areas for improvement based on the players released ahead of IPL 2024:

1. Fast Bowling Power: With the departure of experienced pacers like Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee, KKR needed to strengthen their fast-bowling department.
2. Middle Order Stability: The release of Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das highlighted the need for stability and depth in the middle order.
3. Keeper Options: Losing the services of Narayan Jagadeesan left a gap in the Wicketkeeper department, necessitating the acquisition of a reliable Keeper.
4. Batsman: Releasing Johnson Charles and Aarya Desai created a void in the -batsman role, requiring a suitable replacement.

KKR 2024 Post-Auction Solutions:

How They Addressed The Needs:

KKR strategically addressed their pre-auction challenges through a combination of player acquisitions and retentions:

1. Fast Bowling Power:Mitchell Starc (Rs. 24.75 crore): The record-breaking signing of Mitchell Starc provides the team with a world-class fast bowler capable of leading the pace attack.Gus Atkinson (Rs. 1 crore): While not a high-profile acquisition, Gus Atkinson adds depth to the fast-bowling department and complements Starc’s pace.
2. Spin Bowling Options:Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Rs. 2 crore): Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s signing offers a quality spin option.
3. Wicketkeeper-Batsman:KS Bharat (Rs. 50 lakh): The acquisition of KS Bharat as a wicketkeeper-batsman ensures continuity and depth in the wicketkeeping department, mitigating the loss of Johnson Charles and Aarya Desai.

These strategic signings, combined with the retentions of key players like Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana, align well with KKR’s pre-auction needs, strengthening the squad across various departments and setting them up for a competitive IPL 2024 campaign.

KKR IPL 2024 Probable Playing XI:

Here’s the probable playing XI for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024:

1. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk) — Wicketkeeper-Batsman
2. Venkatesh Iyer — Batsman
3. Shreyas Iyer © — Batsman
4. Nitish Rana — Batsman
5. Rinku Singh — Batsman
6. Andre Russell — All-rounder
7. Ramandeep Singh — All-rounder
8. Sunil Narine — All-rounder
9. Harshit Rana — Bowler
10. Mitchell Starc — Bowler
11. Varun Chakaravarthy — Bowler

Why this Probable 11 for KKR?

KKR’s Strategic Selection:

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk)

• Matches: 11
• Runs: 227
• Average: 20.64
• Half-centuries: 2
• Highest score: 81
• Fours: 17
• Sixes: 15

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a promising wicketkeeper-batsman from Afghanistan, brings aggressive batting and reliable glovework to the Kolkata franchise. With two half-centuries under his belt, Gurbaz has shown glimpses of his potential to anchor the innings and accelerate when needed.

Venkatesh Iyer

• Matches: 36
• Runs: 956
• Average: 28.12
• Centuries: 1
• Half-centuries: 7
• Highest score: 104
• Fours: 86
• Sixes: 42

Venkatesh Iyer, an all-rounder from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, offers versatility with both bat and ball. His aggressive batting style and useful medium-pace bowling make him a valuable asset to the team, capable of turning the game in Kolkata’s favor.

Shreyas Iyer ©

• Matches: 101
• Runs: 2776
• Average: 31.55
• Half-centuries: 19
• Highest score: 96
• Fours: 237
• Sixes: 99

Shreyas Iyer, the seasoned campaigner and captain of the Kolkata franchise, brings stability and leadership to the team. With a wealth of experience and a knack for building innings, Iyer shoulders the responsibility of anchoring the batting order.

Nitish Rana

• Matches: 105
• Runs: 2594
• Average: 28.82
• Half-centuries: 18
• Highest score: 87
• Fours: 229
• Sixes: 131

Nitish Rana, the stylish left-handed batsman from Delhi, adds flair and consistency to Kolkata’s batting lineup. With a track record of impactful performances, Rana is adept at rotating the strike and finding boundaries.

Rinku Singh

• Matches: 31
• Runs: 725
• Average: 36.25
• Half-centuries: 4
• Highest score: 67*
• Fours: 54
• Sixes: 38

Rinku Singh, a promising young batsman from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, offers solidity in the middle order. His ability to build innings and accelerate when needed makes him a reliable contributor to Kolkata’s batting unit.

Andre Russell

• Matches: 112
• Batting Stats:
• Runs: 2262
• Average: 29.00
• Half-centuries: 10
• Highest score: 88*
• Fours: 150
• Sixes: 193

Bowling Stats:

• Matches: 112
• Overs: 253.3
• Wickets: 96
• Average: 24.49
• Economy: 9.27
• Best Bowling: 5/15
• 4 Wickets: 2

Andre Russell, the explosive all-rounder from Jamaica, is a game-changer with both bat and ball. Known for his big-hitting prowess and deceptive pace bowling, Russell’s presence on the field adds intimidation factor to Kolkata’s lineup.

Ramandeep Singh

• Matches: 5
• Runs: 45
• Average: 22.50
• Highest score: 14*
• Fours: 3
• Sixes: 1

Bowling Stats:

• Matches: 5
• Overs: 6
• Wickets: 6
• Average: 9.00
• Economy: 9.00
• Best Bowling: 3/20

Ramandeep Singh, a young talent from Chandigarh, showcases potential with his batting abilities and provides a handy option with the ball. While relatively new to the IPL scene, Singh’s aggressive approach and ability to clear the boundaries make him a player to watch out for in Kolkata’s lineup.

Sunil Narine

• Matches: 162
• Batting Stats:
• Runs: 892
• Average: 14.07
• Half-centuries: 0
• Highest score: 75
• Fours: 74
• Sixes: 52

Bowling Stats:

• Matches: 162
• Overs: 624.2
• Wickets: 163
• Average: 25.79
• Economy: 6.73
• Best Bowling: 5/19
• 4 Wickets: 7

Sunil Narine, the crafty spinner from Trinidad, is a seasoned campaigner in the IPL. With his bag of tricks and ability to stifle the opposition’s scoring rate, Narine remains a vital cog in Kolkata’s bowling attack, capable of breaking partnerships and containing runs.

Harshit Rana

Bowling Stats:

• Matches: 8
• Overs: 22
• Runs: 198
• Wickets: 6
• Average: 33.00
• Economy: 9.00
• Best Bowling: 2/33

Harshit Rana, an emerging all-rounder from India, is yet to make a significant impact in the IPL. With limited opportunities, Rana aims to prove his worth with both bat and ball, contributing effectively to Kolkata’s campaign in the tournament.

Mitchell Starc

Bowling Stats:

• Matches: 27 (2014–2015)
• Overs: 96.4Wickets: 34
• Average: 20.38
• Best Bowling: 4/15
• Economy Rate: 7.17

Mitchell Starc, a renowned left-arm fast bowler from Australia, has had an intermittent yet impactful presence in the IPL. Known for his lethal pace and swing, Starc initially played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) before joining Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). His IPL journey saw notable performances, especially during the 2014 and 2015 seasons, where he emerged as one of the top wicket-takers.After a hiatus from the IPL due to injuries and personal reasons, Starc made headlines again in the IPL 2024 auction. Kolkata Knight Riders secured his services for a staggering sum of INR 24.75 crore, a testament to his prowess as one of the premier fast bowlers in international cricket. With the T20 World Cup on the horizon, Starc’s return to the IPL promises excitement and adds significant firepower to the KKR bowling lineup.

Varun Chakaravarthy

Bowling Stats:

• Matches: 56
• Overs: 214.4
• Wickets: 62
• Average: 25.81
• Economy: 7.45
• Best Bowling: 5/20
• 4 Wickets: 1

Varun Chakaravarthy, the mystery spinner from Bidar, is known for his unorthodox bowling style and ability to deceive batsmen with his variations. Having risen to fame with his stint in the IPL, Varun adds unpredictability to Kolkata’s spin department, capable of foxing even the most seasoned batters with his repertoire of deliveries.

Kolkata Knight Riders 2024 Full Squad:

1. KS Bharat
2. Shreyas Iyer ©
3. Andre Russell (WI)
4. Varun Chakravarthy
5. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (AFG)
6. Nitish Rana
7. Venkatesh Iyer
8. Sunil Narine (WI)
9. Rinku Singh
10. Anukul Roy
11. Harshit Rana
12. Manish Pandey
13. Suyash Sharma
14. Chetan Sakariya
15. Angkrish Raghuvanshi
16. Vaibhav Arora
17. Sushant Mishra
18. Phil Salt
19. Mitchell Starc (AUS)
20. Gus Atkinson (ENG)
21. Sakib Hussain
22. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG)

Key Additions to KKR 2024 Squad:

Here’s the list of players with their acquisition prices for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2024:

1. Mitchell Starc — INR 24.75 crore
2. Mujeeb Ur Rahman — INR 2 crore
3. Sherfane Rutherford — INR 1.5 crore
4. Gus Atkinson — INR 1 crore
5. KS Bharat — INR 50 lakh
6. Chetan Sakariya — INR 50 lakh
7. Angkrish Raghuvanshi — INR 20 lakh
8. Ramandeep Singh — INR 20 lakh
9. Manish Pandey — INR 50 lakh
10. Sakib Hussain — INR 20 lakh

What you can expect from KKR?

Promising Times Ahead: With a formidable squad composition and strategic acquisitions, KKR enters the IPL 2024 season with the potential to deliver strong performances. The balance in the squad and the presence of key impact players set the stage for an exciting and competitive campaign. As IPL 2024 approaches, we the KKR fans can anticipate a captivating chapter in the franchise’s historyStay tuned with Roanuz Cricket API for more updates about KKR with the IPL 2024 Data Package.