Aakash Chopra reveals the players KKR should retain ahead of IPL 2021

Kolkata Knight Riders had an inconsistent run throughout IPL 2020 with seven wins and seven defeats. They had 14 points in their kitty but their negative NRR resulted in them being disqualified from the event before playoffs. Eventually, SRH and RCB, two teams with 14 points each but a better NRR, qualified for third and fourth playoffs spots.

Dinesh Karthik gave up captaincy mid-season and their new skipper Eoin Morgan tried to steady the ship but the damage was already caused. KKR just managed to win two out of their last five encounters of the season. The captaincy change didn’t bring much luck for the team as well.

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra revealed the players the Kolkata franchise should retain going forward to the IPL 2021 season. Chopra feels KKR should retain only three players. He went on to pick Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, and Shubman Gill as his retention choices.

“I thought a lot and I feel that there are only three players they should be retaining. If they retain any more, they will lose money from the kitty and will not be able to build a good team,” Aakash Chopra told in his Facebook video.

Better to retain Andre Russell: Aakash Chopra

“The first name is Andre Russell. This year may not have been good but he is a T20 rockstar. If you release him and try to buy him at the auction, he will be very expensive, so it is better to retain him. You also create a relationship with the player and tell him that he is an integral part of the team.”

Russell scored just 117 runs in 9 innings for KKR in IPL 2020. He managed to pick just 6 wickets in the 7 innings he bowled for the franchise. A lot was expected from the big man but he failed to live up to the expectations in UAE.

“The second player I can see is Varun Chakravarthy. He is taking wickets, he is a mystery bowler and is accurate, If he goes into the auction, he will be very expensive, everybody needs a mystery spinner and Varun Chakravarthy is that guy for you.”

Varun Chakravarthy was among the top wicket-takers with 17 scalps in 13 innings. His best figures of 5/20 came against Delhi Capitals. Interestingly, he was selected for the Australia T20I series but was sidelined due to his shoulder injury.

“Last but not least, who could actually be their first retention. Name is Shubman Gill.” The KKR opener had a decent outing with 440 runs in 14 innings for KKR in IPL 2020.