IPL 2018: Five Players KKR should pick next season

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had very few players in the 2018 Indian Premier League (IPL). They shelled out a significant amount of money for quite a few players owing to which they exhausted their purse with not many players in the squad. Moreover, undesired injuries also didn’t help their cause of staying put in the tournament. The team finished third in the points table. They played well but were eventually defeated by the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) that halted their progress. Dinesh Karthik, their skipper, stuttered in his first stint but ensured that his team keep progressing. The team undoubtedly need some more players in the next outing. In our article, we take a look at five cricketers, KKR might look for next season. 1. Sheldon Cottrell Sheldon Cottrell. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Sheldon Cottrell is a Jamaican born fast-bowler who has represented the Windies as well in all three formats. He has played very limited international cricket but has been a consistent performer in the domestic circuit, especially in the T20 format. In 51 T20s the left-arm seamer has notched 73 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.15. The 28-year old represented St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the 2017 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and picked up 11 wickets in six contests at an incredible economy of 6.57. During the tournament, he also picked up the prized scalp of Chris Gayle with a searing Yorker, which somewhat manifests the potential of Cottrell. KKR will definitely be benefitted by the inclusion of the bowler. 2. Hashim Amla Hashim Amla. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images) Hashim Amla played in the 2017 IPL and scored a couple of centuries in double quick time. However, he went unsold in this season’s tournament that came as a surprise. He doesn’t possess the stature of a typical T20 hitter but has got the potential to score runs at a fair clip. Most importantly, he is reliable as a batsman, someone who values his wicket. He has played 132 T20s and scored 4049 runs at a strike rate of 130.06, which isn’t a mean feat by any means. The right-handed batsman also had an impressive stint for the Cape Cobras in the 2017-18 Ram Slam T20. The 35-year old racked up 332 runs in ten contests and was their second highest run-scorer. In an explosive KKR lineup, Amla can bring a sense of calmness. 3. Mahmudullah Mahmudullah. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Mahmudullah is one of Bangladesh’s most dependable batsman in the middle order. He is also a seasoned campaigner having played T20s across the world. The Mymensingh-born cricketer has played 167 T20s and scored almost 3000 runs. He can also accelerate the scoring rate in the hour of need, which was in show somewhat in the Nidahas Trophy back in March. Moreover, he is more than a handy off-break bowler and has 79 wickets in his career. He played for the Khulna Titans in the 2017 Bangladesh Premier League and was their leading run-getter with 312 runs at an average of 28.36. Moreover, he picked up six wickets. Andre Russell is prone to injuries and Mahmudullah won’t be the worst of replacements for the Knights. 4. Adam Zampa Adam Zampa of Australia appeals. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) Adam Zampa picked up a six-wicket haul versus the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2016 but somehow went off the franchise’s radar. Leg-break bowlers have tasted quite a bit of success in the IPL and Zampa can be an asset for any side. He has played 74 T20s matches he managed 86 wickets. The leggie is also frugal and concedes runs at an economy of 7.05, which is incredible for a spinner. In T20Is for Australia, his economy drops to 6 at a strike-rate of 15 and has shown his ability to curb the opposition his guile and trajectory. He had a disappointing stint with the Melbourne Stars in the 2017-18 Big Bash League with a couple of wickets in five matches. Nevertheless, the 26-year old can be a useful addition to KKR and can be played on wickets which are expected to help the spinners. 5. Navdeep Saini Navdeep Saini picks 7 wickets to take Delhi to innings victory. (Photo Source: Twitter) Navdeep Saini was a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL and despite their poor run, the fast-bowler didn’t get a game. He was highest wicket-taker for Delhi in the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy with 34 wickets in eight matches. Most crucially, he can bowl with sheer pace, which helped hem bag the limelight. He also notched a five-wicket-haul in the domestic event. Even in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he also picked eight wickets in six matches at an economy of 5.13. KKR has Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti in the Indian pace bowling department and another genuine fast bowler can only strengthen their armoury. Previously, he refused to bowl in India’s nets in South Africa in order to help his team into the Final of the Ranji.

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IPL 2018: Five Players KKR should pick next season

These five players will strengthen their lineup.

5. Navdeep Saini

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