Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) should build their team around Shubman Gill and name him as their vice-captain and said that they should start investing in Gill as Mumbai Indians did in Rohit Sharma.
With less than one month remaining for IPL 2021 auction, all franchises including the two-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders have come out with their list of retained and released players.
Scrutinizing the KKR's options ahead of next month's auction, Aakash Chopra feels that Eoin Morgan led side can go for Dawid Malan and will look to strengthen their opening.
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"KKR has Tim Seifert as an option to open with Shubman Gill. But they could look towards Dawid Malan. With Morgan as the captain, I think they will have a greater interest in Malan. Otherwise, they have Tripathi and Nitish Rana has also opened a few times," Aakash Chopra said in a video posted on his YouTube channel.
Aakash Chopra believes that Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell will be the finishers for KKR and their performances will be crucial. He added that the Indian top-order will have to back them up as well.
"Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell's form will be critical to their success. Their batting at No.5 and No.6 has to be super-hit for this team to do well. Their team is looking perfectly fine but they will be looking for Indian batsmen. They have Shubman Gill, Rana, Tripathi, and Karthik, which is not too bad. They have Rinku Singh as backup whom they do not give matches,” he said.
Cricket turned commentator Aakash Chopra further said that KKR would want to have a backup for Andre Russell because of his injury concerns.
"They need a backup for Russell, a player who can do two things because when Russell gets injured then the whole scenario changes. They could go for Cameron Green or Moises Henriques as a backup for Russell if they are looking for fast-bowling all-rounders.
"They could also go for Moeen Ali or Shakib, who are spinning all-rounders. Shakib has also played earlier from this franchise. So they may want to take one out of these four and an overseas top-order batsman if they want. Apart from Malan, they have the option of Roy and Finch," said Akash Chopra.
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Aakash Chopra feels that KKR should announce Shubman Gill as their vice-captain and said that they should invest in him as Mumbai Indians did in Rohit Sharma.
"I want KKR to announce Shubman Gill as their vice-captain at the auction. This is the last mini-auction before a mega-auction. So, my first name for retention will be Shubman Gill. They should build their team around him,"
"So, if they want to keep him, they should start investing as Mumbai Indians did on Rohit Sharma. Delhi Capitals also made Shreyas Iyer their captain. They will have to develop that understanding as they will to take some future leaders along while going ahead," he concluded.
