KKR is the team having huge fan base. Kolkata has won two times IPL(in 2012 and 2014) and also were runner-ups in IPL 2021.
In first three seasons Kolkata Knight Riders was the weakest side. However, KKR has likes of Chris Gayle, Brendon Mccullum, Sourav Ganguly etc. In 2011 Auction, KKR bought new stars and appointed Gautam Gambhir as their Captain. KKR reached semi-final in 2011 and in 2012 KKR won IPL first time by defeating CSK in finals.
The Best season of KKR was IPL 2014 where KKR won their last 8–9 consecutive matches and were again Champions.
In IPL 2022, Knight Riders were with new skipper Shreyas Iyer. Start was well from Kolkata last season, but inconsistency hurt them lot. This season they have bought Rahmanullah Gubraz, Litton Das etc and have Lockie Ferguson and Shardul Thakur via trade.
Here is Best Playing XI of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023:-
Rahmanullah Gubraz(wk)
Wicket-keeper batsman who can fire with bat and opening was concern for KKR, this time addition of Rahmanullah Gubraz might change the fortunes as he is power-hitter who is known for giving explosive start to his team.
Venkatesh Iyer
Venkatesh Iyer was game changer for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021. Last season, he was not too impressive, his strike rate also dropped from 128 to 107. Iyer needs to fire this season if he wants to be in scheme of things both for Knight Riders and Indian team.
Shreyas Iyer(c)
Only positive for Knight Riders last season, Iyer scored 401 runs and he was only batsman who looked comfortable. Captaincy was good as well from him, but he would be looking much forward with team as a skipper.
Nitish Rana
Rana is playing with KKR from last 5 seasons. He has proved to be good player for team. In every season , he player for Knight Riders, he has scored 300+ runs. Rana has 2181 IPL runs at good strike rate of 134.
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Rinku Singh
Another player who is part of Knight Riders since 2018. Rinku Singh last season got more opportunities as compared to other seasons. He has impressed everyone with his hitting abilities. It is likely he will be part of playing XI in more games.
Andre Russell
Andre Russell is Kolkata Knight Riders Best IPL player from last 7–8 seasons. Russell plays with the mindset of hitting every ball in the stands. Russell is such a dangerous hard hitter of the ball.
Andre Russell is a asset to any side in the World. Russell bowls four overs with the bowl and is good bowler in deaths too. Russell has strike rate of 177 with the bat and is a brilliant fielder too.
Sunil Narine
KKR’s best player with Andre Russell. Narine is playing for KKR from last 9-10 seasons and have played a very crucial role in team’s success. Narine has also opened for KKR in near about 35-40 games.
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Sunil Narine doesn’t allow batsmans to go after him and is very economical bowler and wicket-taker. Narine is KKR’s most successful bowler with 152 wickets. His economy is 6.63.
Shardul Thakur
One of most improved player in country over last few years. Shardul is capable of playing match winning knocks both with bat and ball. In last few years, he has evolved as a captain’s go to bowler for taking a wicket. Shardul Thakur’s inclusion can be biggest positive for KKR.
Umesh Yadav
Umesh Yadav has looked as a different bowler in IPL whenever he has player for Kolkata Knight Riders. He will be opener bowler for team again and likely to bowl majority of his spell inside powerplay.
Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy was concern for batsmans in IPL 2020 and IPL 2021. From 35 wickets in IPL 2020 and IPL 2021, his performance was declined last season. He was able to take only 6 wickets at an economy of 8.51. His average was also 55.
Lockie Ferguson
