The two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders have started their preparations for the IPL 2021 as the franchise is set to strengthen their support staff and have appointed England's white-ball analyst Nathan Leamon as its strategic consultant.
Nathan Leamon, who has been involved with the England team since 2009, has been appointed as the new strategic consultant and will now work alongside AR Srikkanth, KKR's current performance analyst, and will be involved with KKR's auction planning as reported by ESPNCricinfo.
As a result of coming on board with KKR, Leamon will now take a leave of absence from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) during IPL 2021.
KKR failed to qualify for the playoffs last season and they finished IPL 2020 with seven wins and seven losses. The side appointed Eoin Morgan as the skipper midway after Dinesh Karthik decided to step down as the leader.
Leamon has also been part of the Pakistan super league (PSL) as a senior analyst for Multan Sultans.
Spending two months in IPL with Eoin Morgan can be crucial to Leamon and ECB ahead of the T20 World Cup this year slated to be played in India.
The IPL 2021 auction is set to take place on February 18. The Knight Riders have eight slots available, including two for overseas players after releasing Tom Banton and Chris Green from their 2021 squad.
(ANI Inputs)
