Last Updated on 3 years by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: 4 players KKR should retain for IPL 2022 | 4 players Kolkata Knight Riders should retain before IPL 2022 Mega Auction

Kolkata Knight Riders did the almost impossible in IPL 2021, coming back from seventh place after phase one to then reach the playoffs. Not only that, Eoin Morgan’s men ended up reaching the Final, and despite falling short against CSK, it was a terrific comeback by the men in purple.

Kolkata has been a consistent team over the years. They’ve won the title twice (2012 and 2014) and 2021 was their third time in the finals. KKR had a very young squad in IPL 2021 and reaching the showpiece match shows the potential of the players. As the Mega Auction is nearing before IPL 2022, KKR too will have the option to retain up to four players before the auction. They have a good bunch of players, so it will be a little tricky to decide whom to retain.

Here are four players that we think KKR should retain for IPL 2022.

4 players KKR should retain before IPL 2022 Mega Auction

1. Andre Russell

Andre Russell is an elite all-rounder in T20 cricket – one who can win games with either bat or ball. We all know how destructive he can be with the bat when on song, and to go with that, he adds up to his value with his bowling.

Russell has the highest strike rate in the IPL history – a ridiculous 178.57 in 70 innings. He wasn’t at his best in IPL 2021, but still scored 183 runs in nine innings at an average of 26.14 and strike rate of 152.50.

Russell had fitness issues as well this season. When fully fit he can change the course of the game in just a few deliveries as we saw in 2019. He scored 510 runs in 13 innings in that season at a whopping strike of 204.81 and average of 56.66, with 52 sixes! There shouldn’t be any doubts about KKR retaining Russell.

2. Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill should be KKR’s second retained player for IPL 2022. Gill is young, very talented, and has a lot of potential. KKR can groom him as a leader as well moving forward.

Gill was the highest run-scorer for KKR in IPL 2021. He scored 478 runs in 17 games at an average of 28.11 and strike rate of 118.90. He needs to improve his strike rate, but he is capable of producing the goods if handled properly.

Shubman Gill is the second player KKR should retain before the mega auction for IPL 2022, as he will give KKR a cushion of a solid Indian opening batsman.

3. Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer announced himself to the cricket fraternity in IPL 2021. KKR included him in the eleven out of nowhere in the second phase and he immediately set the stage on fire. Opening the innings, the southpaw played some very crucial knocks for KKR, and rolled his arm over in a few games as well.

He scored 370 runs in 10 matches at an average of 41.11 and a strike rate of 128.47. Iyer played fearlessly in the powerplay giving KKR a quick start with the bat. Not many could have predicted this, but Venkatesh Iyer made a big impact in a very short time and KKR should retain him ahead of IPL 2022.

4. Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine found his mojo in IPL 2021 after a couple ordinary seasons in 2019 and 2020. He picked 16 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 6.44, playing a key role in KKR reaching the 2021 Final. Narine was the trump card for KKR in the bowling department as Eoin Morgan trusted him to bowl the difficult overs, including at the death. 

The Caribbean mystery spinner picked wickets and broke partnerships whenever his team and captain asked him to. Despite his remodeled action, Narine is one of the best spinners in T20 cricket at the moment. He has been exceptional in the IPL as well.

Narine, as well know, is an excellent pinch hitter and can break the momentum of the game if he plays just for an over. He isn’t a slogger and plays smartly, knowing which bowler to attack.

The perfect example of this is the eliminator of IPL 2021. Narine scored 26 runs off 15 balls including three sixes against Dan Christian. He came in when KKR looked in trouble chasing a small but tricky total and took the game out of RCB’s reach.

Sunil Narine brings a lot of value to a T20 side with his exceptional bowling and pinch-hitting skills and KKR should retain him without any second thoughts.

So, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, and Sunil Narine should be the four players KKR should retain before going into the IPL 2022 Mega Auction.

Written by Robin Rounder. Follow Robin on Twitter today.