The Kolkata Knight Riders are the only team in IPL history who have played more than ten seasons, but they have not topped the points table in the league stage yet. This season, they were on the verge of qualifying for the playoffs. However, their inconsistency did not allow them a place in the Top 4.
The Knight Riders started the season with Dinesh Karthik as their captain. After the first seven matches, Karthik handed over the captaincy to Eoin Morgan so that he could focus on his batting. This move did not benefit Kolkata much as they could win only three of their remaining seven matches. Their inferior net run rate cost them a place in the playoffs.
The biggest letdown for the KKR franchise was their hard-hitting all-rounder, Andre Russell. Known for his destructive batting skills, Russell just could not get going this season. However, KKR will still retain him before the 2021 season. In this article, we will look at those five players who might be released by the 2-time champions soon.
1.Sandeep Warrier
Uncapped fast bowler Sandeep Warrier has been a part of the IPL since the year 2013. He has enormous talent, but somehow he has not realized his full potential in IPL to date. The Kolkata Knight Riders had signed him last year.
In the two seasons that Warrier has played for the Knight Riders, he has taken only two wickets in four matches. Talking about his performance in IPL 2020, Sandeep played only a solitary match, where he went for 34 runs in three overs. It is likely that he may lose his spot in the KKR team before the next season begins.
2.Nikhil Naik
Another uncapped name to feature on this list is the wicket-keeper batsman Nikhil Naik. The Maharashtra-based player was a part of the Kings XI Punjab team from 2015 to 2018. He had played a couple of matches in the 2016 season, where he scored only 22 runs at a strike rate of 74.19.
After KXIP released him, Naik became a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders. The 26-year-old player played only one match for the Knight Riders this year, scoring one run off three balls. He did not get a place in the playing XI after that game. Thus, KKR might think of releasing him.
3.Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is one of the best wrist-spin bowlers in the country. However, he has not been at his best in the IPL. Although the Kolkata Knight Riders have backed him so much, Yadav has been unable to scalp wickets for them. In his previous 14 IPL games, Yadav has dismissed only five batsmen.
His economy rate was good in IPL 2020, but the team management expects the wrist-spinners to take wickets in the middle overs. Since Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine did a splendid job for KKR in 2020, Yadav may likely find himself in the auction next year.
4.Chris Green
The Kolkata Knight Riders had raised a few eyebrows when they decided to sign Chris Green in IPL 2020 Auction. The teams usually avoid going for overseas spinner unless he is an extraordinary talent. The fans expected Green to perform well in the UAE, but the Knight Riders did not need his services much.
Green got only one game in 2020, and he bowled a spell of 0/24 in that match. As mentioned ahead, KKR’s other spinners did well in IPL 2020. By releasing Green, KKR can free up an overseas slot.
5.Rinku Singh
Another former Kings XI Punjab player who joined the Kolkata Knight Riders later, Rinku Singh, has not impressed much while donning the purple jersey in the league.
Singh has played 10 games for KKR thus far, aggregating 77 runs at a strike rate of 101.31. In IPL 2020, he scored 11 runs in the one game that he got to play. As KKR have decent Indian batting options, they may release Rinku before the next season.
