Reports: KKR to name interim captain for IPL 2023, Shardul Thakur, Sunil Narine frontrunners for role

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to name an interim captain for the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The 16th edition of the IPL will begin on March 31. Meanwhile, KKR will kickstart their IPL campaign against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mohali on April 1.

KKR have to decide soon on their captaincy as the IPL has called all the team captains for a meeting on Thursday, March 30. The meeting will be conducted to update the captains about the new rule changes made by the board, including the Impact Player rule. The two-time champions will appoint a new captain (interim) as their regular skipper Shreyas Iyer will miss the first half of the IPL owing to a back injury.  

KKR likely to appoint Shardul Thakur as interim captain

As per a report by The Times of India, KKR’s newly acquired player Shardul Thakur and veteran Sunil Narine are the strong contenders for the captaincy role. KKR are more likely to go with the Indian all-rounder Thakur as it would aid communication with the Indians in the squad. Thakur was bought by KKR from Delhi Capitals (DC) during the season break. 

Meanwhile, Narine has represented the KKR franchise for more than a decade now. He has also captained KKR’s sister franchise the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, during the inaugural edition of the International League T20 (ILT20). Notably, the ILT20 franchise won only one match and finished at the bottom of the points table.

"Within a day or two, KKR are set to make the announcement of their new captain in a grand function, with their owner, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and an overseas pop star set to light up the occasion," a TOI report quoted.

Kolkata Knight Riders will take on Punjab Kings in their opening match at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on April 1. The two-time IPL champions will face off against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their first home match on April 6.

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