IPL 2021: Strongest playing XI of all teams for UAE leg

5) Kolkata Knight Riders

Like SRH, even the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were struggling in this season. They would need a miracle to see themselves in the top 4. They are going to miss the services of their key players for the first match such as Shakib Al Hasan, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Pat Cummins. It is believed that Cummins has opted out of the rest of IPL 2021.

In what comes as another big blow, their captain Eoin Morgan will also be unavailable as none of the English players are expected to play the phase II of IPL 2021. Thus, The Kiwi batsman Tim Seifert would accompany Shubman Gill at the top of the order. Nitish Rana and Rahul Tripathi would bat at 3 and 4 respectively. Gurkeerat Singh Mann would then bat at 5.

Their former captain and current keeper Dinesh Karthik might lead them again as well as don the gloves. The hard-hitting all-rounder from Australia Ben Cutting finally finds a spot in the XI and will bat at 7 for KKR. Their bowling unit would then consist of two Indian pacers which includes Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Prasidh Krishna and an Indian spinner in the form of Varun Chakravarthy. The express pace of Lockie Ferguson would prove to be handy for KKR and thus, he too would find a spot in the XI.

Predicted Playing XI:

Shubman Gill, Tim Seifert, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Dinesh Karthik (C and WK), Ben Cutting, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Varun Chakravarthy, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna