Kolkata Knight Riders, led by Dinesh Karthik, will open their campaign this season in the Indian Premier League against the defending champions the Mumbai Indians on Wednesday. KKR failed to make the playoffs last season after losing six games in a row and will be eager to go all the way this season. KKR has strengthened its team with the addition of Pat Cummins and Eoin Morgan, who have previously played for the franchise.
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Here is our planned XI for KKR against the Mumbai Indians.
1 Shubman Gill
Analysts and cricket experts consider that Shubman Gill will be the next great Indian player and will certainly have the pressure on himself to justify the tag. With Robin Uthappa and Chris Lynn out of KKR, it’s very likely that Gill will hit his favorite starting position, where he can show off his talents with the bat.
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2 Sunil Narine
Sunil Narine has been an integral part of the KKR team over the years, and on slow surfaces in the UAE, the spinner can be a dangerous customer of the ball. But while teams will practice playing Narine’s deliveries, they must also remember that he can be a lethal starter, as seen time and again at the IPL.
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3 Nitish Frog
Nitish Rana is another promising young cricketer among the KKR ranks, preferring to hit the number 3 position, which is best suited to his talent. Rana had to see himself being tossed up and down over the years in batting order, but this time around, he might be more comfortable having a fixed position to hit.
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4 Eoin Morgan
If KKR wins the tournament, Eoin Morgan would have played an integral role in doing so. Not only does Morgan shine with the bat, but he can also be a huge asset in the title role alongside Dinesh Karthik.
5 Dinesh Karthik
Karthik has to be the glue that holds the KKR team together and this time he has to lead from the front. Karthik has to show why he deserves a place in the T20 World Cup squad for India next year and this is his great opportunity to do so.
6 Andre Russell
Andre Russell, the most dangerous player in the IPL right now, will be eager to take over the United Arab Emirates. If Russell gets going, no one will stop him.
7 Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh had a great domestic season for Uttar Pradesh once again in 2019, and he will be eager to repeat the same at IPL.
8 Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins will certainly feel the pressure to justify the Rs 15.5 crore price. The Australian sailor had a tough series against England and will want to forget about it and start getting ground early on.
9 Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav had a memorable year at the IPL last year. But if we have seen something of the Chinese it is that he is always willing to learn from his mistakes. Don’t be surprised if you see an improved Kuldeep this year.
10 Prasidh Krishna
Prasidh Krishna has been the most improved bowler in the KKR ranks and he will also be eager to get off to a good start this year.
11 Shivam Mavi
Shivam Mavi is another young prospect in the KKR ranks who could be the center of attention this season in the United Arab Emirates.
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