4 probable retentions for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2022

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are two time IPL champions, winning in 2012 and 2014.

The BCCI has finalized the plans for the mega IPL 2022 auction, as per reports of the Times of India. This auction is expected to be a huge one given that two new teams will be added to the mix in 2022 and the number of players will be increased as well.

The BCCI has reportedly put in new rules for the player retentions, increment in salary purses, and fresh media rights tender.

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As per new rules of player retention, each franchise will be allowed to retain only four players, but there are a few conditions that the franchises would have to follow- they can either retain three Indians and one overseas player or two Indians and two overseas players.

The salary deduction, in the existing structure, is stipulated as follows: Rs 15 crs, Rs 11 crs, and Rs 7 crs if three players are retained; Rs 12.5 crs and Rs 8.5 crs if two players are retained; and Rs 12.5 crs if only one player is retained.

Therefore, Team COC takes a look at the players that two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), might look to retain ahead of the IPL 2022 auction.

The first and foremost retention that KKR might look to make would be the two foreign players that have served them so well in Australia’s Pat Cummins and West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell.

Pat Cummins was the most expensive foreign player in the IPL 2020 auction with a price tag of Rs 15 crores. Thus far in two IPL seasons, he has 21 wickets in 21 matches and also made 239 runs with two half-centuries.

On the other hand, Andre Russell has been Kolkata Knight Riders’ heart and soul with 1680 runs and 68 wickets in 81 IPL matches. Though he has been plagued with fitness and form issues for the previous two IPL seasons, KKR would not want Russell to go back in the auction pool.

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Now coming to the Indian players who can possibly be retained, the first name is opener Shubman Gill. The 21-year-old has been in decent form for KKR since his debut in 2018 but struggled a bit in the IPL 2020 and 2021.

However, Gill has shown he has tremendous talent to overcome any shortcoming and it would be a wise decision for them to invest in him for the future.

The fourth player that KKR might want to retain is mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy. The right-arm spinner has been one of the best finds for them in the IPL, picking 25 wickets in 21 matches, with the only fifer taken in the IPL 2020 edition in UAE.

With Sunil Narine struggling with his bowling action and waning form, KKR has found a perfect bowling replacement for him in Varun Chakravarthy, who can serve them for a long term going forward.

Possible retentions for KKR before IPL 2022 auction- Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Varun Chakravarthy