The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a stunning six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in match 61 of the IPL&nbsp;2023 edition on Sunday evening (May 14). The likes of Sunil Narine (2 for 15), Varun Chakaravarthy (2 for 37), Rinku Singh (43-ball 54) and skipper Nitish Rana (57 not out) propelled their side to a much-needed win as Kolkata stay alive in the playoffs race.

While Rinku and Varun have been one of KKR's most consistent performers this season, Narine, Andre Russell, and Shardul Thakur have been below par. Ahead of the CSK-KKR clash in Chennai, former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris took a dig at Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur.

"Shardul Thakur looks lost as a cricketer. The worst thing as an all-rounder than you can be called is a bits-and-pieces cricketer,” Styris told&nbsp;JioCinema.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ms-dhoni-has-given-enough-hints-that-this-is-his-last-md-kaif-on-csk-skippers-ipl-future-592614">MS Dhoni has given enough hints that this is his last: Md Kaif on CSK skipper's IPL future</a>

Shardul has featured in 10 games in this year's season. The 31-year-old has accounted for five scalps and scored 110 runs. He missed a few games due to injury concerns.

KKR have one more game to play, versus the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at home, and, thus, Shardul will be hungry to silence his critics with a memorable all-round performance. His side needs to win at all costs and hope for a number of results to go in their favour to qualify for the playoffs with 14 points, the maximum they can reach in case of another win.&nbsp;

After the IPL, Shardul will then shift his focus on the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final where India will take on Australia in early June, at The Oval, London.

The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a stunning six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in match 61 of the IPL 2023 edition on Sunday evening (May 14).

The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a stunning six-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in match 61 of the IPL 2023 edition on Sunday evening (May 14). The likes of Sunil Narine (2 for 15), Varun Chakaravarthy (2 for 37), Rinku Singh (43-ball 54) and skipper Nitish Rana (57 not out) propelled their side to a much-needed win as Kolkata stay alive in the playoffs race. While Rinku and Varun have been one of KKR's most consistent performers this season, Narine, Andre Russell, and Shardul Thakur have been below par. Ahead of the CSK-KKR clash in Chennai, former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris took a dig at Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur. "Shardul Thakur looks lost as a cricketer. The worst thing as an all-rounder than you can be called is a bits-and-pieces cricketer,” Styris told JioCinema. Also Read: MS Dhoni has given enough hints that this is his last: Md Kaif on CSK skipper's IPL future Shardul has featured in 10 games in this year's season. The 31-year-old has accounted for five scalps and scored 110 runs. He missed a few games due to injury concerns. KKR have one more game to play, versus the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at home, and, thus, Shardul will be hungry to silence his critics with a memorable all-round performance. His side needs to win at all costs and hope for a number of results to go in their favour to qualify for the playoffs with 14 points, the maximum they can reach in case of another win. After the IPL, Shardul will then shift his focus on the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final where India will take on Australia in early June, at The Oval, London.

IPL 2023: 'He looks...' - Former NZ player Scott Styris' dig at star KKR all-rounder

Sunil Narine-starrer Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are still alive in the playoffs race in IPL 2023. After 11 games, they have five wins and occupy the sixth position in the overall standings. Speaking about Narine, the wily off-spinner has not looked at his usual best in the ongoing edition. The 34-year-old has claimed seven wickets in 11 games, at an average of&nbsp;46.71, and an economy touching nine (8.60).

While Narine has contained the run-flow in a few games, he has also been taken to the cleaners on many occasions in this year's IPL. Speaking on his indifferent run, former West Indies opener Daren Ganga shared some advice for him.&nbsp;

“He has had major challenges with remodelling of his action. He had to do (it) on a continuous basis, he has been called and warned a few times. He had to step out of international cricket because of that scrutiny,” Ganga said during an interaction at the sidelines of a Cricviz event.

Ganga added, "But for me Sunil Narine is still a formidable force, maybe, him taking a shift in franchise might freshen him up and his impact, who knows?" He further emphasised on KKR's spin bowling trio, also comprising Suyash Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy, and said, "Sunil Narine is operating in a KKR team where he’s got two additional spinners. That was never the case before. He operated primarily with (Varun) Chakravarthy. But now, he’s got to operate with Suyash Sharma (as well), which makes it a little bit different for him as a player."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-crowd-wait-for-me-to-get-out-so-that-dhoni-can-come-and-bat-reveals-ravindra-jadeja-591247">IPL 2023: 'Crowd wait for me to get out so that Dhoni can come and bat', reveals Ravindra Jadeja</a>

Defending Narine, Ganga added,“he’s been consistent with line and lengths” , which, in turn, has benefitted Chakravarthy and Suyash.

“I’ve had the chance to speak with him. The lack of success that they’ve experienced as a team has put a lot more pressure on him as a bowler because defending smaller totals, he’s got to bowl in situations where conditions are very good for batting. We saw that Kolkata is one of the best batting venues in the IPL. So, he’s also playing in a side where he’s bowling amongst other spinners which are successful.

“If you take three spinners in a complement of five bowlers in a T20 innings someone is not going to perform in terms of taking wickets. His economy has been very similar to Chakravarthy and Sharma – they are beneficiaries while he is operating alongside them," Ganga concluded.

Narine will be desperate to churn out more wickets for KKR as they remain in contention for the playoffs race. The two-time winners host the fifth-ranked Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 56 on Thursday evening (May 11).

Sunil Narine-starrer Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are still alive in the playoffs race in IPL 2023. After 11 games, they have five wins and occupy the sixth position in the overall standings.

Sunil Narine-starrer Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are still alive in the playoffs race in IPL 2023. After 11 games, they have five wins and occupy the sixth position in the overall standings. Speaking about Narine, the wily off-spinner has not looked at his usual best in the ongoing edition. The 34-year-old has claimed seven wickets in 11 games, at an average of 46.71, and an economy touching nine (8.60). While Narine has contained the run-flow in a few games, he has also been taken to the cleaners on many occasions in this year's IPL. Speaking on his indifferent run, former West Indies opener Daren Ganga shared some advice for him. “He has had major challenges with remodelling of his action. He had to do (it) on a continuous basis, he has been called and warned a few times. He had to step out of international cricket because of that scrutiny,” Ganga said during an interaction at the sidelines of a Cricviz event. Ganga added, "But for me Sunil Narine is still a formidable force, maybe, him taking a shift in franchise might freshen him up and his impact, who knows?" He further emphasised on KKR's spin bowling trio, also comprising Suyash Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy, and said, "Sunil Narine is operating in a KKR team where he’s got two additional spinners. That was never the case before. He operated primarily with (Varun) Chakravarthy. But now, he’s got to operate with Suyash Sharma (as well), which makes it a little bit different for him as a player." Also Read: IPL 2023: 'Crowd wait for me to get out so that Dhoni can come and bat', reveals Ravindra Jadeja Defending Narine, Ganga added,“he’s been consistent with line and lengths” , which, in turn, has benefitted Chakravarthy and Suyash. “I’ve had the chance to speak with him. The lack of success that they’ve experienced as a team has put a lot more pressure on him as a bowler because defending smaller totals, he’s got to bowl in situations where conditions are very good for batting. We saw that Kolkata is one of the best batting venues in the IPL. So, he’s also playing in a side where he’s bowling amongst other spinners which are successful. “If you take three spinners in a complement of five bowlers in a T20 innings someone is not going to perform in terms of taking wickets. His economy has been very similar to Chakravarthy and Sharma – they are beneficiaries while he is operating alongside them," Ganga concluded. Narine will be desperate to churn out more wickets for KKR as they remain in contention for the playoffs race. The two-time winners host the fifth-ranked Rajasthan Royals (RR) in match 56 on Thursday evening (May 11).

IPL 2023: 'Taking a shift in...': Former WI opener's glaring suggestion for under-fire Sunil Narine

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Nitish Rana has been a consistent performer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years and this year is no different with Rana being the second highest run-scorer of his team behind Rinku Singh.

In the past, however, Rana has had problems against the short-ball but he seemed to have worked upon it as the batsman looks much more comfortable this season. Rana, in an interaction with former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif on Star Sports, revealed that he has worked on the same and hence the result.

“I've worked on facing the short ball, and it is showing in my batting now. Because many were criticising my technique against short ball,” Rana said.

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The KKR skipper also revealed that many big cricketers had called him about his technique on the short-ball and it didn't feel good to him.

“I've worked on my fitness and short-ball technique this year. Many, many big people, who I won't name, have said things about that (short-ball technique); some even phone-called me directly, and that really hurt me. So, I've worked on my batting, dedicated my all to the game. I'm in a better shape as well, and batting well as well,” he revealed.

Nonetheless, all seems to be going good this season for him as far as runs and short ball are concerned. Notably, Rana has scored 326 runs in 11 matches this season till now at an impressive strike rate of 146.85. His average has also been a decent 29.64 with a highest score of 75.

Talking about KKR, they currently are at sixth place on the points table with 10 points in 11 matches. They have won five and lost six games so far and are still in hunt to make it to the playoffs. There are four teams out of 10 which have 10 points 11 games at the current stage and KKR is second among the, just behind Rajasthan Royals and ahead of RCB &amp; Punjab Kings.

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Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Nitish Rana has been a consistent performer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years and this year is no different with Rana being the second highest run-scorer of his team behind Rinku Singh.

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Nitish Rana has been a consistent performer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years and this year is no different with Rana being the second highest run-scorer of his team behind Rinku Singh. In the past, however, Rana has had problems against the short-ball but he seemed to have worked upon it as the batsman looks much more comfortable this season. Rana, in an interaction with former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif on Star Sports, revealed that he has worked on the same and hence the result. “I've worked on facing the short ball, and it is showing in my batting now. Because many were criticising my technique against short ball,” Rana said. Also Read: Suresh Raina predicts great future for young Punjab Kings STAR The KKR skipper also revealed that many big cricketers had called him about his technique on the short-ball and it didn't feel good to him. “I've worked on my fitness and short-ball technique this year. Many, many big people, who I won't name, have said things about that (short-ball technique); some even phone-called me directly, and that really hurt me. So, I've worked on my batting, dedicated my all to the game. I'm in a better shape as well, and batting well as well,” he revealed. Nonetheless, all seems to be going good this season for him as far as runs and short ball are concerned. Notably, Rana has scored 326 runs in 11 matches this season till now at an impressive strike rate of 146.85. His average has also been a decent 29.64 with a highest score of 75. Talking about KKR, they currently are at sixth place on the points table with 10 points in 11 matches. They have won five and lost six games so far and are still in hunt to make it to the playoffs. There are four teams out of 10 which have 10 points 11 games at the current stage and KKR is second among the, just behind Rajasthan Royals and ahead of RCB & Punjab Kings. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: 'That really hurt...:' KKR skipper Nitish Rana on being criticised for short-ball technique

Andre Russell and Rinku Singh helped Kolkata Knight Riders steal a thriller against the Punjab Kings with a last-ball four. While Rinku hit the winning runs with KKR needing two to win on the final ball, it was Russell who hit three sixes in the penultimate over to bring the situation down to six off six.

Russell eventually got out on the second-last ball of the match after scoring 42 off 23. The big West Indian all-rounder jammed a wide yorker ball from Punjab's Arshdeep Singh and took off for a single but was found short by the bowler, bringing Rinku on strike.

Talking about the run-out after the match, Russell said, "I wanted to finish the game off, but we have a finisher this year in Rinku. He had told me what if the ball beats you, should we go for the run? I said for sure, I have faith in him to finish it on the last ball.”

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rohit-sharmas-struggle-with-the-bat-is-virender-sehwag-opines-on-mi-skippers-form-590574">'Rohit Sharma's struggle with the bat is...' - Virender Sehwag opines on MI skipper's form</a>

Notably, Rinku had previously won a match for his team against the defending champion Gujarat Titans in the current season only, hitting five sixes off the last five balls of the match.

Russell also acknowledged his rise and said that if there had been any other batsman on non-strike apart from Rinku, he would not have taken off for the run.

“In any other game, with any other batter, I'm not sure if I would run (a bye off the penultimate ball from Arshdeep),” Russell said at the post-match press conference. "I've never really done those things before. I would back myself to bat the last delivery and get the job done. But when you have a guy like Rinku who has been so successful in the last couple of overs for us, and when you have such a fearless player who has a shot to counter any delivery, I was definitely confident. I gave him a hug and said 'listen, bring home the bacon for us. At the end of the day, we need you at this point', and he said, 'okay big man. No worries.' Happy days," he added.

With the win, KKR entered the mid-table logjam of 10 points but rose to the fifth position on the table and PBKS now are at seventh place.&nbsp;

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Andre Russell and Rinku Singh helped Kolkata Knight Riders steal a thriller against the Punjab Kings with a last-ball four. While Rinku hit the winning runs with KKR needing two to win on the final ball, it was Russell who hit three sixes in the penultimate over to bring the situation down to six off six.

Andre Russell and Rinku Singh helped Kolkata Knight Riders steal a thriller against the Punjab Kings with a last-ball four. While Rinku hit the winning runs with KKR needing two to win on the final ball, it was Russell who hit three sixes in the penultimate over to bring the situation down to six off six. Russell eventually got out on the second-last ball of the match after scoring 42 off 23. The big West Indian all-rounder jammed a wide yorker ball from Punjab's Arshdeep Singh and took off for a single but was found short by the bowler, bringing Rinku on strike. Talking about the run-out after the match, Russell said, "I wanted to finish the game off, but we have a finisher this year in Rinku. He had told me what if the ball beats you, should we go for the run? I said for sure, I have faith in him to finish it on the last ball.” Also Read: 'Rohit Sharma's struggle with the bat is...' - Virender Sehwag opines on MI skipper's form Notably, Rinku had previously won a match for his team against the defending champion Gujarat Titans in the current season only, hitting five sixes off the last five balls of the match. Russell also acknowledged his rise and said that if there had been any other batsman on non-strike apart from Rinku, he would not have taken off for the run. “In any other game, with any other batter, I'm not sure if I would run (a bye off the penultimate ball from Arshdeep),” Russell said at the post-match press conference. "I've never really done those things before. I would back myself to bat the last delivery and get the job done. But when you have a guy like Rinku who has been so successful in the last couple of overs for us, and when you have such a fearless player who has a shot to counter any delivery, I was definitely confident. I gave him a hug and said 'listen, bring home the bacon for us. At the end of the day, we need you at this point', and he said, 'okay big man. No worries.' Happy days," he added. With the win, KKR entered the mid-table logjam of 10 points but rose to the fifth position on the table and PBKS now are at seventh place. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: 'Not sure if I would...:' KKR's Andre Russell after getting run-out on penultimate ball against PBKS

Kolkata Knight Riders may have crossed 200-run mark thrice in this IPL but their bowling has been abysmal so far and they have conceded 200 twice and 185+ twice in five matches so far.

KKR skipper Nitish Rana also showed his frustration with the bowlers after their latest loss against Mumbai Indians at the post-match presentation, asking them to deliver.

Former KKR player, Yusuf Pathan, however, has questioned Nitish Rana's selection strategy. Notably, KKR kept Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav out and played Lockie Ferguson but didn't give him the new ball, which Pathan found strange.

"I was surprised as to why did he select Ferguson in the playing XI. If you are not going to give him the new ball, then why is he playing? He is now bowling that well, so maybe change him for someone else because his pace bowling attack is coming across as very weak", Pathan said after the match.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kohli-unfollows-ganguly-on-instagram-after-latter-refuses-to-shake-hands-post-rcb-dc-tie-in-ipl-2023-reports-583218">Kohli unfollows Ganguly on Instagram after latter refuses to shake hands post RCB-DC tie in IPL 2023: Reports</a>

"Shardul Thakur, Ferguson and Umesh Yadav are there. Last season, Umesh was brilliant and showed good form. But he needs a wicket taking partner so that the entire pressure doesn't fall on him. If there is so much pressure on a fast bowler, then maybe even he won't be able to perform well. The other two pacers need to perform better. They should also check for other options," he added further.

Meanwhile, speaking to Ravi Shastri at the post match presentation after loss against MI, KKR skipper Rana said, "Definitely, I would like my bowling unit to deliver. One or two matches are fine... but it's happening for five matches in a row now. Every bowler can have one or two bad days, but when it happens back-to-back, it's a cause of worry. We need to have a talk about it when we sit back, and come back stronger.”

KKR currently are at fifth place in the points table with four points from five matches.

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Kolkata Knight Riders may have crossed 200-run mark thrice in this IPL but their bowling has been abysmal so far and they have conceded 200 twice and 185+ twice in five matches so far.

Kolkata Knight Riders may have crossed 200-run mark thrice in this IPL but their bowling has been abysmal so far and they have conceded 200 twice and 185+ twice in five matches so far. KKR skipper Nitish Rana also showed his frustration with the bowlers after their latest loss against Mumbai Indians at the post-match presentation, asking them to deliver. Former KKR player, Yusuf Pathan, however, has questioned Nitish Rana's selection strategy. Notably, KKR kept Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav out and played Lockie Ferguson but didn't give him the new ball, which Pathan found strange. "I was surprised as to why did he select Ferguson in the playing XI. If you are not going to give him the new ball, then why is he playing? He is now bowling that well, so maybe change him for someone else because his pace bowling attack is coming across as very weak", Pathan said after the match. Also Read: Kohli unfollows Ganguly on Instagram after latter refuses to shake hands post RCB-DC tie in IPL 2023: Reports "Shardul Thakur, Ferguson and Umesh Yadav are there. Last season, Umesh was brilliant and showed good form. But he needs a wicket taking partner so that the entire pressure doesn't fall on him. If there is so much pressure on a fast bowler, then maybe even he won't be able to perform well. The other two pacers need to perform better. They should also check for other options," he added further. Meanwhile, speaking to Ravi Shastri at the post match presentation after loss against MI, KKR skipper Rana said, "Definitely, I would like my bowling unit to deliver. One or two matches are fine... but it's happening for five matches in a row now. Every bowler can have one or two bad days, but when it happens back-to-back, it's a cause of worry. We need to have a talk about it when we sit back, and come back stronger.” KKR currently are at fifth place in the points table with four points from five matches. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: 'Why is he playing...': Yusuf Pathan on Nitish Rana's selection strategy after KKR's loss vs MI

Mumbai Indians lost their two opening matches to start the IPL 2023 and the finally broke the losing streak in their third match, beating downtrodden Delhi Capitals by six wickets.&nbsp;

Skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front with a sublime fifty as Mumbai chased a modest target of 173 with relative ease against&nbsp;DC. The Indians, however, will be keen to continue their winning run against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar is eager to see how they do that.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rcbs-dinesh-karthik-pips-mis-rohit-sharma-for-most-ducks-in-ipl-582890">RCB's Dinesh Karthik pips MI's Rohit Sharma for most ducks in IPL</a>

"The upcoming match is going to be very interesting for Mumbai because after breaking the long streak of defeat, there must have been a change in the mindset of the Mumbai team and now it will be interesting to see what kind of game they show to maintain their winning streak," said Sunil Gavaskar while speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live program.

Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, have had a mixed IPL 2023 so far with two wins and two losses in four matches this season. After losing their first match against Punjab Kings, KKR bounced back in style, beating RCB and GT by 81 runs and three wickets, respectively.

KKR, however, lost their fourth match against Sunrisers Hyderabad but not before their skipper Nitish Rana gave them a scare. Former India bowler Harbhajan Singh, in particular, is very impressed with Rana's batting and captaincy both.

Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live Harbhajan Singh said, "Nitish Rana has led KKR from the front in the last two games. His timing has been immaculate, he attacked spinners and pacers with equal ease. He is batting well and even making the captaincy moves brilliantly."

Both the team will face of each other on Sunday, April 16 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai with an aim to strengthen their position on the points table.

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Mumbai Indians lost their two opening matches to start the IPL 2023 and the finally broke the losing streak in their third match, beating downtrodden Delhi Capitals by six wickets.

Mumbai Indians lost their two opening matches to start the IPL 2023 and the finally broke the losing streak in their third match, beating downtrodden Delhi Capitals by six wickets. Skipper Rohit Sharma led from the front with a sublime fifty as Mumbai chased a modest target of 173 with relative ease against DC. The Indians, however, will be keen to continue their winning run against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar is eager to see how they do that. Also Read: RCB's Dinesh Karthik pips MI's Rohit Sharma for most ducks in IPL "The upcoming match is going to be very interesting for Mumbai because after breaking the long streak of defeat, there must have been a change in the mindset of the Mumbai team and now it will be interesting to see what kind of game they show to maintain their winning streak," said Sunil Gavaskar while speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live program. Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, have had a mixed IPL 2023 so far with two wins and two losses in four matches this season. After losing their first match against Punjab Kings, KKR bounced back in style, beating RCB and GT by 81 runs and three wickets, respectively. KKR, however, lost their fourth match against Sunrisers Hyderabad but not before their skipper Nitish Rana gave them a scare. Former India bowler Harbhajan Singh, in particular, is very impressed with Rana's batting and captaincy both. Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live Harbhajan Singh said, "Nitish Rana has led KKR from the front in the last two games. His timing has been immaculate, he attacked spinners and pacers with equal ease. He is batting well and even making the captaincy moves brilliantly." Both the team will face of each other on Sunday, April 16 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai with an aim to strengthen their position on the points table. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: Former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar eager to see MI's approach against KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders' West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell has had a horrible start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 with the bat. Russell has managed only 39 runs so far in four matches and that too with a highest score of 35 runs.

With Russell being out of form, KKR have found it very hard to accelerate or maintain the pressure in middle overs, leaving onus on the likes of Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh. Russell's struggle becomes even more glaring with KKR top-order not able to perform as well.

Speaking on the same, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag told Rohan Gavaskar on Cricbuzz that he had asked Russell top open batting in 2018 and he found success doing so in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) but doing the same thing with KKR is a bit tricky.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-went-out-there-with-i-dont-care-mentality-harry-brook-opens-up-on-stunning-hundred-for-srh-582665">Went out there with 'I don't care' mentality - Harry Brook opens up on stunning hundred for SRH</a>

"He had a leg injury so could KKR have sent him as an opener? He wouldn't have had to do a lot of running and could have used the field restrictions to his credit," Rohan Gavaskar had asked Sehwag.&nbsp;

“I told Andre Russell the same thing in 2018. I told Russell to go domestic cricket and open. if you get success as an opener then you will become a million-dollar boy. And he did that. He opened in CPL, scored a century in one of the games and messaged me, But he was the captain there, the biggest player. He can take such risks and calls of opening the batting. But can he do the same in KKR? This will have to be decided by the coaching staff and captain," Sehwag replied to Rohan.

“He has no problems against fast bowlers, it's the spinners that can get him into trouble but if he gets set while opening the batting then he will get a lot more balls to play and he can become even more dangerous,” Sehwag further added.

In terms of bowling, KKR skipper only tossed the ball to Russell for the first time in the fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The West Indian made an impact instantly with 3/22 but had to leave the field after being injured as he fell on the ground post bowling only 2.1 overs.

KKR, chasing a target of 229, had a terrible start again but skipper Nitish Rana's 41-ball 75 brought them back in the match. Russell, however, managed just three runs as KKR lost the match by 23 runs.

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Kolkata Knight Riders' West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell has had a horrible start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 with the bat. Russell has managed only 39 runs so far in four matches and that too with a highest score of 35 runs.

Kolkata Knight Riders' West Indian all-rounder Andre Russell has had a horrible start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 with the bat. Russell has managed only 39 runs so far in four matches and that too with a highest score of 35 runs. With Russell being out of form, KKR have found it very hard to accelerate or maintain the pressure in middle overs, leaving onus on the likes of Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh. Russell's struggle becomes even more glaring with KKR top-order not able to perform as well. Speaking on the same, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag told Rohan Gavaskar on Cricbuzz that he had asked Russell top open batting in 2018 and he found success doing so in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) but doing the same thing with KKR is a bit tricky. Also Read: Went out there with 'I don't care' mentality - Harry Brook opens up on stunning hundred for SRH "He had a leg injury so could KKR have sent him as an opener? He wouldn't have had to do a lot of running and could have used the field restrictions to his credit," Rohan Gavaskar had asked Sehwag. “I told Andre Russell the same thing in 2018. I told Russell to go domestic cricket and open. if you get success as an opener then you will become a million-dollar boy. And he did that. He opened in CPL, scored a century in one of the games and messaged me, But he was the captain there, the biggest player. He can take such risks and calls of opening the batting. But can he do the same in KKR? This will have to be decided by the coaching staff and captain," Sehwag replied to Rohan. “He has no problems against fast bowlers, it's the spinners that can get him into trouble but if he gets set while opening the batting then he will get a lot more balls to play and he can become even more dangerous,” Sehwag further added. In terms of bowling, KKR skipper only tossed the ball to Russell for the first time in the fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The West Indian made an impact instantly with 3/22 but had to leave the field after being injured as he fell on the ground post bowling only 2.1 overs. KKR, chasing a target of 229, had a terrible start again but skipper Nitish Rana's 41-ball 75 brought them back in the match. Russell, however, managed just three runs as KKR lost the match by 23 runs. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: Virender Sehwag suggests change in batting order for KKR's Andre Russell

Rinku Singh starred for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their thrilling three-wicket win over defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in match 13 of the IPL 2023 edition on Sunday (April 9). In pursuit of 205, in Ahmedabad, KKR required 29 in the last over before Rinku smashed five successive sixes to take his side home on the final delivery.&nbsp;

Rinku ended with a 21-ball 48, laced with a four and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 228.57, to provide one of the best finishes in IPL history and etch his name in history books. Relive the last-over heroics:

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Watching this on L➅➅➅➅➅P... and we still can't believe what we just witnessed! 🤯<a href="https://t.co/1tyryjm47W">pic.twitter.com/1tyryjm47W</a>
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders/status/1645069223851442176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Here's all you need to know about KKR's new champion Rinku Singh

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-srks-tweet-on-kkr-star-rinku-singh-goes-viral-after-thrilling-win-vs-gt-see-post-580848">IPL 2023: SRK's tweet on KKR star Rinku Singh goes viral after thrilling win vs GT - See post</a>

1) Rinku Singh was born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh on October 12, 1997

2) Rinku represents his side in domestic cricket

3) The left-hander was bought by the KKR franchise in 2018 for INR 80 lakhs

4) Rinku played only four games in IPL 2018, five in the following season, and one in the 2020 edition. However, KKR backed him and retained the left-hander in IPL 2022 auction for INR 55 lakhs.&nbsp;

5) While KKR had a forgettable run in IPL 2022, Rinku smashed 174 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 148.

6) Rinku is a decent name in domestic cricket. He was the third-highest run-getter (953) in Ranji Trophy 2018-19.

7) Rinku comes from a humble background with his father earning his income from delivering LPG cylinders, elder brother driving an autorickshaw, and another brother working in a coaching centre.

8) In 2018, MI and KKR fought hard to acquire his services before the latter won the bidding battle. Rinku was part of Punjab Kings (PBKS) as well in IPL 2021, where he warmed the bench throughout the season. Now, he is KKR's new superstar with a bright future ahead.

Family's financial struggles

Rinku's family was in debt of INR 5 lakhs three years back. While every earning member struggled hard to run the house, in the LPG quarters, Rinku strived hard to give some mileage to his cricketing career. Nonetheless, he also tried his hand at other jobs to contribute to his family.

"He (my brother) took me to a place where they asked me to be a domestic worker — saaf, safaai aur pochaa maarna (sweeping and mopping). I came back home and told my mother, ‘I will not go again. Let me just try my luck in cricket," Rinku told Indian Express in an interaction a few years ago.

After earning his first-ever IPL contract, for INR 80 lakhs, Rinku told in the same interaction, "Thought I would get 20 lakhs, but I was picked up for 80! The first thought that came to my mind was that I can contribute to my big brother’s wedding, and save up something for my sister’s wedding too. Aur ek achhe se ghar mein shift ho jaoonga (And shift into a nice house)."

After overcoming years of struggles, Rinku's big moment has arrived. He is surely one for the long race!

Rinku Singh starred for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their thrilling three-wicket win over defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in match 13 of the IPL 2023 edition on Sunday (April 9).

Rinku Singh starred for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their thrilling three-wicket win over defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in match 13 of the IPL 2023 edition on Sunday (April 9). In pursuit of 205, in Ahmedabad, KKR required 29 in the last over before Rinku smashed five successive sixes to take his side home on the final delivery. Rinku ended with a 21-ball 48, laced with a four and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 228.57, to provide one of the best finishes in IPL history and etch his name in history books. Relive the last-over heroics: Watching this on L➅➅➅➅➅P... and we still can't believe what we just witnessed! 🤯pic.twitter.com/1tyryjm47W — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 9, 2023 × Here's all you need to know about KKR's new champion Rinku Singh Also Read: IPL 2023: SRK's tweet on KKR star Rinku Singh goes viral after thrilling win vs GT - See post 1) Rinku Singh was born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh on October 12, 1997 2) Rinku represents his side in domestic cricket 3) The left-hander was bought by the KKR franchise in 2018 for INR 80 lakhs 4) Rinku played only four games in IPL 2018, five in the following season, and one in the 2020 edition. However, KKR backed him and retained the left-hander in IPL 2022 auction for INR 55 lakhs. 5) While KKR had a forgettable run in IPL 2022, Rinku smashed 174 runs in seven games at a strike rate of 148. 6) Rinku is a decent name in domestic cricket. He was the third-highest run-getter (953) in Ranji Trophy 2018-19. 7) Rinku comes from a humble background with his father earning his income from delivering LPG cylinders, elder brother driving an autorickshaw, and another brother working in a coaching centre. 8) In 2018, MI and KKR fought hard to acquire his services before the latter won the bidding battle. Rinku was part of Punjab Kings (PBKS) as well in IPL 2021, where he warmed the bench throughout the season. Now, he is KKR's new superstar with a bright future ahead. Family's financial struggles Rinku's family was in debt of INR 5 lakhs three years back. While every earning member struggled hard to run the house, in the LPG quarters, Rinku strived hard to give some mileage to his cricketing career. Nonetheless, he also tried his hand at other jobs to contribute to his family. "He (my brother) took me to a place where they asked me to be a domestic worker — saaf, safaai aur pochaa maarna (sweeping and mopping). I came back home and told my mother, ‘I will not go again. Let me just try my luck in cricket," Rinku told Indian Express in an interaction a few years ago. After earning his first-ever IPL contract, for INR 80 lakhs, Rinku told in the same interaction, "Thought I would get 20 lakhs, but I was picked up for 80! The first thought that came to my mind was that I can contribute to my big brother’s wedding, and save up something for my sister’s wedding too. Aur ek achhe se ghar mein shift ho jaoonga (And shift into a nice house)." After overcoming years of struggles, Rinku's big moment has arrived. He is surely one for the long race!

IPL 2023: From living in LPG quarters to becoming KKR's new star! All you need to know about Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh pulled off a heist as the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by three wickets&nbsp;while needing 29 off the last six deliveries at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday (April 09). In pursuit of 205, in match 13 of IPL 2023, KKR were going strong at 128 for 2 but Rashid Khan's hat-trick jolted their run-chase with 29 needed off the last over. Rinku blasted five sixes on the trot to take his side home on the final ball of a riveting contest.

While Umesh Yadav gave him a strike on the first ball of the last over, bowled by Yash Dayal, Rinku first pounced on the three full-tosses and smacked two more maximums of the last two deliveries, both being slower short balls, to take his side home. Here's reliving Rinku's breathtaking heroics versus GT:

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History created by Rinku Singh. 
 
What a finish. <a href="https://t.co/NDAiGjQVoI">pic.twitter.com/NDAiGjQVoI</a>
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1645067975249244162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-rinku-singh-hits-five-sixes-in-last-over-to-win-it-for-kkr-after-rashid-khans-hat-trick-580758">IPL 2023: Rinku Singh hits five sixes in last over to win it for KKR despite Rashid Khan's hattrick</a>

Talking about the match, stand-in captain Rashid and his troops opted to bat first and rode on Sai Sudharsan's 53 and Vijay Shankar's 63* to post 204-4 in 20 overs. KKR was going well courtesy of&nbsp;Venkatesh Iyer (83 off 40 balls) and skipper Nitish Rana (45 off 29) before Rashid claimed the first hat-trick of the season. Nonetheless, Rinku's timely hits took KKR home on the final ball of the high-scoring thriller.

'Had the belief'

"Had the belief that I can do it. Last year I was in a similar situation in Lucknow. Had the belief back then too. Didn't think too much out there. Those shots just happened one after the other. That last one was back of the hand, and I struck it off the back foot," said Rinku at the post-match presentation.

Rinku Singh pulled off a heist as the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by three wickets while needing 29 off the last six deliveries at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday (April 09).

Rinku Singh pulled off a heist as the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) by three wickets while needing 29 off the last six deliveries at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday (April 09). In pursuit of 205, in match 13 of IPL 2023, KKR were going strong at 128 for 2 but Rashid Khan's hat-trick jolted their run-chase with 29 needed off the last over. Rinku blasted five sixes on the trot to take his side home on the final ball of a riveting contest. While Umesh Yadav gave him a strike on the first ball of the last over, bowled by Yash Dayal, Rinku first pounced on the three full-tosses and smacked two more maximums of the last two deliveries, both being slower short balls, to take his side home. Here's reliving Rinku's breathtaking heroics versus GT: History created by Rinku Singh. What a finish. pic.twitter.com/NDAiGjQVoI — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 9, 2023 × Also Read: IPL 2023: Rinku Singh hits five sixes in last over to win it for KKR despite Rashid Khan's hattrick Talking about the match, stand-in captain Rashid and his troops opted to bat first and rode on Sai Sudharsan's 53 and Vijay Shankar's 63* to post 204-4 in 20 overs. KKR was going well courtesy of Venkatesh Iyer (83 off 40 balls) and skipper Nitish Rana (45 off 29) before Rashid claimed the first hat-trick of the season. Nonetheless, Rinku's timely hits took KKR home on the final ball of the high-scoring thriller. 'Had the belief' "Had the belief that I can do it. Last year I was in a similar situation in Lucknow. Had the belief back then too. Didn't think too much out there. Those shots just happened one after the other. That last one was back of the hand, and I struck it off the back foot," said Rinku at the post-match presentation.

6,6,6,6,6: Reliving Rinku Singh's heroics in KKR's last-over win over defending champions GT - Watch

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Rinku Singh tore apart Gujarat Titans' young pacer Yasha Dayal as the batsman hit five sixes of consecutive balls to win a thriller for his team.

Starting last over with 29 required to win, Umesh Yadav took single off the first ball of GT's Yash Dayal. KKR needed 28 to win from five balls with Rinku on strike. The southpaw then smashed young Dayal all over the park for five sixes on the next five balls to seal a scintillating win for his team.

While Rinku's feat made him a superstar overnight, Yash Dayal had a day to be forgotten and Rinku, in a chat with India Today said that he texted his 'good friend' Yash after that match.

"I texted Yash after the game, saying it happens in cricket, you did really well last year, I just tried to motivate him a little," said Rinku.

Also Read:&nbsp;'<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-i-also-dream-kkrs-rinku-singh-reveals-what-next-after-scintillating-bating-vs-gt-581003">I also dream...:' KKR's Rinku Singh reveals what next after scintillating bating vs GT</a>

Even the KKR camp posted a heartfelt tweet for the young bowler on their Twitter handle, asking him to chip up.

"Chin up, lad. Just a hard day at the office, happens to the best of players in cricket. You’re a champion, Yash, and you’re gonna come back strong," read KKR's tweet.

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Chin up, lad. Just a hard day at the office, happens to the best of players in cricket. You’re a champion, Yash, and you’re gonna come back strong 💜🫂<a href="https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gujarat_titans</a> <a href="https://t.co/M0aOQEtlsx">pic.twitter.com/M0aOQEtlsx</a>
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders/status/1645123246252249091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Earlier, Gujarat Titans, thanks to Vijay Shankar's exploits in last two overs where he helped his team add 45 runs, posted a mammoth total of 204/4 in 20 overs. Apart from Vijay Shankar, Sai Sudharsan also played a good hand of 53 off 38.

KKR, while chasing, lost two wickets early but Venkatesh Iyer smashed 40-ball 83 and skipper Nitish Rana scored 29-ball 45 to keep them in the hunt. GT's stand-in captain Rashid Khan almost closed the doors on KKR with a hat-trick but Rinku's other-worldly batting display took KKR home by on the last ball with three wickets in hand.

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Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Rinku Singh tore apart Gujarat Titans' young pacer Yasha Dayal as the batsman hit five sixes of consecutive balls to win a thriller for his team.

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Rinku Singh tore apart Gujarat Titans' young pacer Yasha Dayal as the batsman hit five sixes of consecutive balls to win a thriller for his team. Starting last over with 29 required to win, Umesh Yadav took single off the first ball of GT's Yash Dayal. KKR needed 28 to win from five balls with Rinku on strike. The southpaw then smashed young Dayal all over the park for five sixes on the next five balls to seal a scintillating win for his team. While Rinku's feat made him a superstar overnight, Yash Dayal had a day to be forgotten and Rinku, in a chat with India Today said that he texted his 'good friend' Yash after that match. "I texted Yash after the game, saying it happens in cricket, you did really well last year, I just tried to motivate him a little," said Rinku. Also Read: 'I also dream...:' KKR's Rinku Singh reveals what next after scintillating bating vs GT Even the KKR camp posted a heartfelt tweet for the young bowler on their Twitter handle, asking him to chip up. "Chin up, lad. Just a hard day at the office, happens to the best of players in cricket. You’re a champion, Yash, and you’re gonna come back strong," read KKR's tweet. Chin up, lad. Just a hard day at the office, happens to the best of players in cricket. You’re a champion, Yash, and you’re gonna come back strong 💜🫂@gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/M0aOQEtlsx — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 9, 2023 × Earlier, Gujarat Titans, thanks to Vijay Shankar's exploits in last two overs where he helped his team add 45 runs, posted a mammoth total of 204/4 in 20 overs. Apart from Vijay Shankar, Sai Sudharsan also played a good hand of 53 off 38. KKR, while chasing, lost two wickets early but Venkatesh Iyer smashed 40-ball 83 and skipper Nitish Rana scored 29-ball 45 to keep them in the hunt. GT's stand-in captain Rashid Khan almost closed the doors on KKR with a hat-trick but Rinku's other-worldly batting display took KKR home by on the last ball with three wickets in hand. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: 'I texted...:' KKR's Rinku reveals what he said to GT's Yash after hitting him for 5 sixes

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Rinku Singh scripted history against Gujarat Titans on April 9, 2023 after he smacked five sixes on the last five balls of the match to win it for KKR. Rinku's miracle innings made him an overnight superstar and the left-hand batsman now has his sight set on the next dream.

Speaking to India Today in an exclusive chat, Rinku said, "Like everyone else, I also dream of playing for India, but I am focused on the IPL. Just want to keep performing for KKR and help them win matches. Suresh Raina has been my idol since the start and I follow him. He is a very good fielder and he also used to bat lower down the order as I do."&nbsp;

Rinku's feat was acknowledged through out the cricket world and he got appreciation from the likes of Virender Sehwag, Mohammed Kaif, Harbhajan Singh, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes to name a few.

Also Watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-kkr-dressing-room-burst-into-jubilation-following-rinku-singhs-majestic-knock-against-gt-watch-580898">KKR dressing room bursts into jubilation following Rinku Singh's majestic knock against GT</a>

Starting last over with 29 required to win, Umesh Yadav took single off the first ball of GT's Yash Dayal. KKR needed 28 to win from five balls with Rinku on strike. The southpaw then smashed young Dayal all over the park for five sixes on the next five balls to seal a scintillating win for his team.

Speaking on his innings, Rinku added further in his chat with India Today, "My father struggled a lot, I come from a farmer's family. Every ball that I hit out of the ground was dedicated to the people who sacrificed so much for me."

Earlier, Gujarat Titans, thanks to Vijay Shankar's exploits in last two overs where he helped his team add 45 runs, posted a mammoth total of 204/4 in 20 overs.

KKR, while chasing, lost two wickets early but Venkatesh Iyer smashed 40-ball 83 and skipper Nitish Rana scored 29-ball 45 to keep them in the hunt. GT's stand-in captain Rashid Khan almost closed the doors on KKR with a hat-trick but Rinku's other-worldly batting display took KKR home.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Rinku Singh scripted history against Gujarat Titans on April 9, 2023 after he smacked five sixes on the last five balls of the match to win it for KKR.

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Rinku Singh scripted history against Gujarat Titans on April 9, 2023 after he smacked five sixes on the last five balls of the match to win it for KKR. Rinku's miracle innings made him an overnight superstar and the left-hand batsman now has his sight set on the next dream. Speaking to India Today in an exclusive chat, Rinku said, "Like everyone else, I also dream of playing for India, but I am focused on the IPL. Just want to keep performing for KKR and help them win matches. Suresh Raina has been my idol since the start and I follow him. He is a very good fielder and he also used to bat lower down the order as I do." Rinku's feat was acknowledged through out the cricket world and he got appreciation from the likes of Virender Sehwag, Mohammed Kaif, Harbhajan Singh, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes to name a few. Also Watch: KKR dressing room bursts into jubilation following Rinku Singh's majestic knock against GT Starting last over with 29 required to win, Umesh Yadav took single off the first ball of GT's Yash Dayal. KKR needed 28 to win from five balls with Rinku on strike. The southpaw then smashed young Dayal all over the park for five sixes on the next five balls to seal a scintillating win for his team. Speaking on his innings, Rinku added further in his chat with India Today, "My father struggled a lot, I come from a farmer's family. Every ball that I hit out of the ground was dedicated to the people who sacrificed so much for me." Earlier, Gujarat Titans, thanks to Vijay Shankar's exploits in last two overs where he helped his team add 45 runs, posted a mammoth total of 204/4 in 20 overs. KKR, while chasing, lost two wickets early but Venkatesh Iyer smashed 40-ball 83 and skipper Nitish Rana scored 29-ball 45 to keep them in the hunt. GT's stand-in captain Rashid Khan almost closed the doors on KKR with a hat-trick but Rinku's other-worldly batting display took KKR home. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: 'I also dream...:' KKR's Rinku Singh reveals what next after scintillating bating vs GT

Gujarat Titans' all-rounder Vijay Shankar lit up Narendra Modi stadium against visiting Kolkata Knight Riders as GT smashed 45 runs in last two overs. Shankar, who was batting at 16 off 10 at the end of 17th over, scored a fifty of 20 balls and eventually managed 63 not out off 24 balls.

Shankar smacked four fours and five sixes in his innings, including three consecutive ones to KKR's Shardul Thakur in his and innings last over. Shankar's first four of his last-over mayhem came on the fifth ball of 18th over.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-csk-in-hot-waters-as-deepak-chahar-among-two-star-all-rounders-ruled-out-for-a-few-games-580710">CSK in hot waters as Deepak Chahar among two STAR all-rounders ruled out for a few games</a>

Batting at 22 off 13 at the start of 19th over, Shankar smacked a four off first ball of Lockie Ferguson's over which was called a no-ball. Shankar then smacked two sixes and one more four in the over, taking 25 of it.

Come next over, Thakur started off well against David Miller, giving away just one on the first ball. Thakur then got away with the second ball with a slower bouncer. Shankar, then, smacked three back-to-back sixes before missing out on the last one, taking 20 off the over. Here are his three sixes:

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A hat-trick of MAXIMUMS, ft. <a href="https://twitter.com/vijayshankar260?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@vijayshankar260</a> 🔥 🔥 
 
Relive those SIXES 🔽 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GTvKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GTvKKR</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gujarat_titans</a> <a href="https://t.co/nnRwMh3LtJ">pic.twitter.com/nnRwMh3LtJ</a>
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Thanks to Shankar's blitzkrieg inning, GT went from 159/4 in 18 overs to 204/4 in 20 overs.

Earlier, Titans won the toss and elected to bat first. Rashid Khan came to toss as stand-in skipper for Gujarat with regular captain Hardik Pandya missing with illness. Gujarat got off to a good start, scoring 54 in powerplay for the loss of one wicket only.

After Saha got out, Shubman Gill and last-match hero Sai Sudharsan added 67 for the second wicket. Sudharsan, 53 off 38, went on to score his second consecutive fifty before being subbed out at the end of Gujarat innings. Gujarat lost a bit of steam with wickets of Sudharsan and Abhinav Manohar but Vijay Shankar turned the tables on its head in the last two overs.

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Gujarat Titans' all-rounder Vijay Shankar lit up Narendra Modi stadium against visiting Kolkata Knight Riders as GT smashed 45 runs in last two overs. Shankar, who was batting at 16 off 10 at the end of 17th over, scored a fifty of 20 balls and eventually managed 63 not out off 24 balls.

Gujarat Titans' all-rounder Vijay Shankar lit up Narendra Modi stadium against visiting Kolkata Knight Riders as GT smashed 45 runs in last two overs. Shankar, who was batting at 16 off 10 at the end of 17th over, scored a fifty of 20 balls and eventually managed 63 not out off 24 balls. Shankar smacked four fours and five sixes in his innings, including three consecutive ones to KKR's Shardul Thakur in his and innings last over. Shankar's first four of his last-over mayhem came on the fifth ball of 18th over. Also Read: CSK in hot waters as Deepak Chahar among two STAR all-rounders ruled out for a few games Batting at 22 off 13 at the start of 19th over, Shankar smacked a four off first ball of Lockie Ferguson's over which was called a no-ball. Shankar then smacked two sixes and one more four in the over, taking 25 of it. Come next over, Thakur started off well against David Miller, giving away just one on the first ball. Thakur then got away with the second ball with a slower bouncer. Shankar, then, smacked three back-to-back sixes before missing out on the last one, taking 20 off the over. Here are his three sixes: A hat-trick of MAXIMUMS, ft. @vijayshankar260 🔥 🔥 Relive those SIXES 🔽 #TATAIPL | #GTvKKR | @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/nnRwMh3LtJ — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 9, 2023 × Thanks to Shankar's blitzkrieg inning, GT went from 159/4 in 18 overs to 204/4 in 20 overs. Earlier, Titans won the toss and elected to bat first. Rashid Khan came to toss as stand-in skipper for Gujarat with regular captain Hardik Pandya missing with illness. Gujarat got off to a good start, scoring 54 in powerplay for the loss of one wicket only. After Saha got out, Shubman Gill and last-match hero Sai Sudharsan added 67 for the second wicket. Sudharsan, 53 off 38, went on to score his second consecutive fifty before being subbed out at the end of Gujarat innings. Gujarat lost a bit of steam with wickets of Sudharsan and Abhinav Manohar but Vijay Shankar turned the tables on its head in the last two overs. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: Vijay Shankar LIGHTS UP KKR bowling, GT score 45 off last two overs - WATCH

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by a whopping 81-run margin in their first home game of IPL 2023, on Thursday evening (April 06). After a seven-run loss (DLS method), to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their season-opener, Nitish Rana-led KKR made a spirited comeback from reeling at 89 for 5 to post 204/7 and dismissed RCB for a paltry 123 in 17.4 overs.

While KKR spinners -- Sunil Narine (2 for 16), Varun Chakaravarthy (4 for 15), and Suyash Sharma (3 for 30) -- starred with the ball by sharing nine scalps, it was pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur who set the game with a blistering 29-ball 68 and also returned with 1 for 15. After the flop show of KKR's top order, Shardul went bonkers from one end and stitched a match-winning 103-run stand with Rinku Singh (33-ball 46).&nbsp;

KKR eventually won by a huge margin with Nitish Rana marshalling his troops nicely, he was slammed by Little Master Sunil Gavaskar for his poor shot selection. The KKR stand-in captain managed a 5-ball 1 after he went for a reverse sweep, off Michael Bracewell, when his side was already reduced to 46 for 2 after six overs and was in need of a big partnership. Thus, Gavaskar slammed Rana and said on-air, "What kind of shot was that from KKR captain? He didn't connect at all. And as a captain, I think that shot was completely avoidable."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-dhoni-or-de-villiers-name-your-favourite-cricketer-kohli-wins-hearts-with-epic-reply-watch-580021">IPL 2023: Dhoni or De Villiers -- name your favourite cricketer? Kohli wins hearts with epic reply – WATCH</a>

After winning his first game as an IPL skipper, Rana will breathe a sigh of relief. However, he will be wary of the fact that KKR needs big runs from him in order to keep going ahead in the tournament.

At the post-match presentation, Rana said on Thursday evening, "In the previous match, there were a lot of positives. We were seven down but still we fought. Today we showed great fight. Gurbaz played a brilliant knock at the top of the order and Thakur changed the complexion of the game. Credit should also be given to Rinku as he played second fiddle to Thakur and paced his innings well. Umesh and Southee started decently with the ball. Then, our spinners bowled really well. Taking wickets regularly was great for us. Suyash is a confident young man and he has belief in himself. He made his chance count and it was great to see him bowl that way."

KKR will next face the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Sunday afternoon (April 09).

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by a whopping 81-run margin in their first home game of IPL 2023, on Thursday evening (April 06).

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by a whopping 81-run margin in their first home game of IPL 2023, on Thursday evening (April 06). After a seven-run loss (DLS method), to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their season-opener, Nitish Rana-led KKR made a spirited comeback from reeling at 89 for 5 to post 204/7 and dismissed RCB for a paltry 123 in 17.4 overs. While KKR spinners -- Sunil Narine (2 for 16), Varun Chakaravarthy (4 for 15), and Suyash Sharma (3 for 30) -- starred with the ball by sharing nine scalps, it was pace-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur who set the game with a blistering 29-ball 68 and also returned with 1 for 15. After the flop show of KKR's top order, Shardul went bonkers from one end and stitched a match-winning 103-run stand with Rinku Singh (33-ball 46). KKR eventually won by a huge margin with Nitish Rana marshalling his troops nicely, he was slammed by Little Master Sunil Gavaskar for his poor shot selection. The KKR stand-in captain managed a 5-ball 1 after he went for a reverse sweep, off Michael Bracewell, when his side was already reduced to 46 for 2 after six overs and was in need of a big partnership. Thus, Gavaskar slammed Rana and said on-air, "What kind of shot was that from KKR captain? He didn't connect at all. And as a captain, I think that shot was completely avoidable." Also Read: IPL 2023: Dhoni or De Villiers -- name your favourite cricketer? Kohli wins hearts with epic reply – WATCH After winning his first game as an IPL skipper, Rana will breathe a sigh of relief. However, he will be wary of the fact that KKR needs big runs from him in order to keep going ahead in the tournament. At the post-match presentation, Rana said on Thursday evening, "In the previous match, there were a lot of positives. We were seven down but still we fought. Today we showed great fight. Gurbaz played a brilliant knock at the top of the order and Thakur changed the complexion of the game. Credit should also be given to Rinku as he played second fiddle to Thakur and paced his innings well. Umesh and Southee started decently with the ball. Then, our spinners bowled really well. Taking wickets regularly was great for us. Suyash is a confident young man and he has belief in himself. He made his chance count and it was great to see him bowl that way." KKR will next face the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Sunday afternoon (April 09).

IPL 2023: 'What was that, completely avoidable shot' - Gavaskar BLASTS KKR skipper Nitish Rana in RCB tie

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered their first win of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season after they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 81 runs on Thursday, April 6. The encounter played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata saw KKR back to winning ways having lost their opening encounter of the season to Punjab Kings by seven runs. Heroics from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (57), Rinku Singh (46) and Shardul Thakur (68) saw the two-time champions home having initially struggled with the bat.

<h2>RCB fall at Eden Gardens</h2>

Asked to chase a mammoth 205, RCB lost Virat Kohli (21), Faf du Plessis (23) and Michael Bracewell (19) fell early while no other batter came in handy in the run chase. RCB lost both openers in quick succession as KKR were at the top of their game. Varun Chakaravarthy scalped four wickets while Suyash Sharma bagged three wickets. Sunil Narine was also on the show as he had a brace to show as well.&nbsp;

<h2>KKR make remarkable recovery</h2>

Explosive half-centuries by opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and lower-order batter Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh's century stand for the sixth wicket with Shardul helped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) reach a massive total of 204/7 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Thursday.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-updated-points-table-gt-remain-atop-after-pbks-edge-past-rr-in-a-thriller-579770">IPL 2023 Updated points table: GT remain atop after PBKS edge past RR in a thriller</a>

Put to bat first by RCB, Rahmanullah Gurbaz helped KKR get off to a solid start, smashing Mohammed Siraj for three straight fours in the third over. Venkatesh Iyer on the other end, started slowly. However, David Willey, coming to the side as Reece Topley's replacement, made an immediate impact in the next over, castling Venkatesh's middle stump.

Willey was the pick of the bowlers for RCB, taking 2/16 in his four overs. Karn Sharma also took 2/26 in his three overs. Harshal, Bracewell and Siraj managed one wicket each.

The win sees KKR record their first points of the season and have gone level with RCB for the same points. KKR will next take on champions Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, April 9 while RCB will take on Lucknow Super Giants at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangaluru. 
&nbsp;

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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered their first win of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season after they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 81 runs on Thursday, April 6.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) registered their first win of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season after they beat Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 81 runs on Thursday, April 6. The encounter played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata saw KKR back to winning ways having lost their opening encounter of the season to Punjab Kings by seven runs. Heroics from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (57), Rinku Singh (46) and Shardul Thakur (68) saw the two-time champions home having initially struggled with the bat. RCB fall at Eden Gardens Asked to chase a mammoth 205, RCB lost Virat Kohli (21), Faf du Plessis (23) and Michael Bracewell (19) fell early while no other batter came in handy in the run chase. RCB lost both openers in quick succession as KKR were at the top of their game. Varun Chakaravarthy scalped four wickets while Suyash Sharma bagged three wickets. Sunil Narine was also on the show as he had a brace to show as well. KKR make remarkable recovery Explosive half-centuries by opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz and lower-order batter Shardul Thakur and Rinku Singh's century stand for the sixth wicket with Shardul helped Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) reach a massive total of 204/7 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Thursday. ALSO READ | IPL 2023 Updated points table: GT remain atop after PBKS edge past RR in a thriller Put to bat first by RCB, Rahmanullah Gurbaz helped KKR get off to a solid start, smashing Mohammed Siraj for three straight fours in the third over. Venkatesh Iyer on the other end, started slowly. However, David Willey, coming to the side as Reece Topley's replacement, made an immediate impact in the next over, castling Venkatesh's middle stump. Willey was the pick of the bowlers for RCB, taking 2/16 in his four overs. Karn Sharma also took 2/26 in his three overs. Harshal, Bracewell and Siraj managed one wicket each. The win sees KKR record their first points of the season and have gone level with RCB for the same points. KKR will next take on champions Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, April 9 while RCB will take on Lucknow Super Giants at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangaluru. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: Shardul Thakur, Varun Chakaravarthy lead KKR to famous 81-run win against lacklustre RCB

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition kicked off on March 31 and is already gaining traction with each passing day. So far, the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) have won two matches in a row whereas last year's runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 72 runs. Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) , the two most successful IPL teams, have lost one each with the latter winning their previous encounter by 12 runs. Meanwhile, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are also looking serious contenders.

In this regard, many former cricketers recently shared the teams who will finish at the top-two positions after the end of the ongoing group stage.&nbsp; "Sanju Samson's Royals and Faf du Plessis' Royal Challengers look like a great side. They can finish as the top two teams," Sanjay Manjrekar -- former Indian batter who is part of the&nbsp;elite commentary panellists of Star Sports, the official TV broadcaster of IPL, told on Star.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-became-better-since-ms-dhoni-ganguly-asks-dc-players-to-step-up-in-ipl-2023-579398">'Rishabh Pant became better since MS Dhoni...' - Ganguly asks DC players to step up in IPL 2023</a>

Meanwhile, former Australia all-rounder David Hussey told, "RR and LSG too are looking to finish as the top two teams at the end of the league stage.” Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis said, "I think RR and DC have it in them to finish as the top two teams in IPL 2023."

On the other hand, the former West Indies captain Daren Sammy predcted saying, "RCB and GT according to me will end up finishing as the top-two teams in this season."

Former Australia cricketer and SRH head coach Tom Moody said, "Early stages but LSG and RR look like the teams to beat. They can be the top two teams in the group stage."

It will be interesting to see who will be the two teams who end up at the top two spots. The two sides will get an extra game to enter the final whereas the third and fourth-ranked sides will lock horns in the Eliminator and then also play the loser of Qualifier 1, in Qualifier 2, to make it to the summit clash.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition kicked off on March 31 and is already gaining traction with each passing day. So far, the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) have won two matches in a row whereas last year's runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 72 runs.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition kicked off on March 31 and is already gaining traction with each passing day. So far, the defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) have won two matches in a row whereas last year's runners-up Rajasthan Royals (RR) beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 72 runs. Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) , the two most successful IPL teams, have lost one each with the latter winning their previous encounter by 12 runs. Meanwhile, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are also looking serious contenders. In this regard, many former cricketers recently shared the teams who will finish at the top-two positions after the end of the ongoing group stage. "Sanju Samson's Royals and Faf du Plessis' Royal Challengers look like a great side. They can finish as the top two teams," Sanjay Manjrekar -- former Indian batter who is part of the elite commentary panellists of Star Sports, the official TV broadcaster of IPL, told on Star. Also Read: 'Rishabh Pant became better since MS Dhoni...' - Ganguly asks DC players to step up in IPL 2023 Meanwhile, former Australia all-rounder David Hussey told, "RR and LSG too are looking to finish as the top two teams at the end of the league stage.” Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis said, "I think RR and DC have it in them to finish as the top two teams in IPL 2023." On the other hand, the former West Indies captain Daren Sammy predcted saying, "RCB and GT according to me will end up finishing as the top-two teams in this season." Former Australia cricketer and SRH head coach Tom Moody said, "Early stages but LSG and RR look like the teams to beat. They can be the top two teams in the group stage." It will be interesting to see who will be the two teams who end up at the top two spots. The two sides will get an extra game to enter the final whereas the third and fourth-ranked sides will lock horns in the Eliminator and then also play the loser of Qualifier 1, in Qualifier 2, to make it to the summit clash.

IPL 2023: Not CSK or MI! Sanjay Manjrekar makes his top two picks after group stage

Kolkata Knight Riders have made their latest move in the market as they acquired the services of England star Jason Roy as a replacement for Shakib Al Hasan in the Indian Premier League (IPL) season. KKR, who were about Shakib’s unavailability for the rest of the season did not take time to make the move and paid a whopping amount of INR 2.8 crore for the former Sunrisers Hyderabad star.

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We can't be more excited to share this news with you, fam! 🤩 
 
𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘮, <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonRoy20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JasonRoy20</a>! 💜<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmiKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmiKKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL2023?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL2023</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ta0yrBsyyk">pic.twitter.com/Ta0yrBsyyk</a>
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<h3>KKR make their move for Jason Roy</h3>

After going unsold in the auction for a base price of INR 1.5 crore, KKR needed a capable replacement for Shakib, while they are also without skipper Shreyas Iyer. Roy will most preferably deputies for Iyer while KKR will look to make the most of the talented English star who has been out of contract with the national side but still carries an incremental term.

As things stand, most English players can sign replacement deals in the IPL before a cut-off date of March 1, in order to help their counties plan for the early months of the County Championship season. Roy, who has been on the incremental contract, was eligible to sign for an IPL franchise in case any scenario appears.

Roy last played donned the colours of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL where he played five matches in the 2021 campaign. He was bought by Gujarat Titans in the 2022 IPL auctions for INR 1.5 crore, before deciding to pull out of the season. Roy took a long timeout from the game to spend time with his family.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-unbeliveable-david-warner-survives-snorter-from-shami-in-dc-vs-gt-579258">IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! David Warner survives snorter from Shami in DC vs GT - WATCH</a>

<h3>Roy’s short IPL stint</h3>

Roy has so far played 13 IPL matches and scored 329 runs at an average of 29.91 which includes two fifties as well with a best of 91. Interestingly his last spell in the IPL in 2021 with SRH saw him score 150 runs in five matches, averaging 30 and striking at 123.96.

KKR will take the field on Thursday, April 6 at the Eden Gardens against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and will look to bounce back from their opening day defeat. KKR lost by seven runs to Punjab Kings (PBKS) on the DLS method and will look to put behind the disappointment of that torrid defeat.

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Kolkata Knight Riders have made their latest move in the market as they acquired the services of England star Jason Roy as a replacement for Shakib Al Hasan in the Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Kolkata Knight Riders have made their latest move in the market as they acquired the services of England star Jason Roy as a replacement for Shakib Al Hasan in the Indian Premier League (IPL) season. KKR, who were about Shakib’s unavailability for the rest of the season did not take time to make the move and paid a whopping amount of INR 2.8 crore for the former Sunrisers Hyderabad star. We can't be more excited to share this news with you, fam! 🤩 𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘮, @JasonRoy20! 💜#AmiKKR #TATAIPL2023 pic.twitter.com/Ta0yrBsyyk — KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 5, 2023 × KKR make their move for Jason Roy After going unsold in the auction for a base price of INR 1.5 crore, KKR needed a capable replacement for Shakib, while they are also without skipper Shreyas Iyer. Roy will most preferably deputies for Iyer while KKR will look to make the most of the talented English star who has been out of contract with the national side but still carries an incremental term. As things stand, most English players can sign replacement deals in the IPL before a cut-off date of March 1, in order to help their counties plan for the early months of the County Championship season. Roy, who has been on the incremental contract, was eligible to sign for an IPL franchise in case any scenario appears. Roy last played donned the colours of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL where he played five matches in the 2021 campaign. He was bought by Gujarat Titans in the 2022 IPL auctions for INR 1.5 crore, before deciding to pull out of the season. Roy took a long timeout from the game to spend time with his family. ALSO READ | IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! David Warner survives snorter from Shami in DC vs GT - WATCH Roy’s short IPL stint Roy has so far played 13 IPL matches and scored 329 runs at an average of 29.91 which includes two fifties as well with a best of 91. Interestingly his last spell in the IPL in 2021 with SRH saw him score 150 runs in five matches, averaging 30 and striking at 123.96. KKR will take the field on Thursday, April 6 at the Eden Gardens against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and will look to bounce back from their opening day defeat. KKR lost by seven runs to Punjab Kings (PBKS) on the DLS method and will look to put behind the disappointment of that torrid defeat. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

IPL 2023: KKR rope in THIS English star to replace Shakib Al Hasan; gets paid whopping INR 2.8 crore

India's star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who got off to a losing start in the ongoing edition, were dealt with a huge blow when Shakib Al Hasan withdraw from the current season and now more miseries have been added with their regular captain Iyer being ruled out. In addition, Iyer will miss the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, at The Oval, London, in early June as he will undergo a back surgery.

As per ESPNcricinfo, Iyer will be travelling overseas for the surgery and, thus, will be out of cricketing action for at least three months before he resumes training. The 28-year-old has been dealing with back issues for a long time. He had missed the first Test of the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 edition before his back complaints resurfaced during the final Test, in Ahmedabad. As a result, he missed the three-match ODI series versus Australia. Before the India-Australia Tests, he&nbsp;had experienced problems due to the same injury in December after the end of India's tour of Bangladesh.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-ms-dhoni-hits-two-mammoth-sixes-during-csks-chepauk-return-as-crowd-goes-bonkers-watch-579031">&nbsp;IPL 2023: MS Dhoni hits two mammoth sixes during CSK's Chepauk return as crowd goes bonkers - Watch</a>

In Iyer's absence, Nitish Rana was made KKR's interim captain and will now lead the side in the remainder of the IPL 2023 edition. Moreover, Rohit Sharma-led India will have to find a suitable replacement for Iyer before they square off versus Australia in the WTC finale, to be held in the United Kingdom soon after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL season.

Meanwhile, Iyer is expected to remain out of action till June end but it will all depend on how his surgery goes abroad. The batter will be aiming to return to the Indian team before Asia Cup 2023, which will be followed by the ICC ODI World Cup -- to be held in India in October-November.

India's star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who got off to a losing start in the ongoing edition, were dealt with a huge blow when Shakib Al Hasan withdraw from the current season and now more miseries have been added with their regular captain Iyer being ruled out.

India's star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. The two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who got off to a losing start in the ongoing edition, were dealt with a huge blow when Shakib Al Hasan withdraw from the current season and now more miseries have been added with their regular captain Iyer being ruled out. In addition, Iyer will miss the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final between India and Australia, at The Oval, London, in early June as he will undergo a back surgery. As per ESPNcricinfo, Iyer will be travelling overseas for the surgery and, thus, will be out of cricketing action for at least three months before he resumes training. The 28-year-old has been dealing with back issues for a long time. He had missed the first Test of the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23 edition before his back complaints resurfaced during the final Test, in Ahmedabad. As a result, he missed the three-match ODI series versus Australia. Before the India-Australia Tests, he had experienced problems due to the same injury in December after the end of India's tour of Bangladesh. Also Read: IPL 2023: MS Dhoni hits two mammoth sixes during CSK's Chepauk return as crowd goes bonkers - Watch In Iyer's absence, Nitish Rana was made KKR's interim captain and will now lead the side in the remainder of the IPL 2023 edition. Moreover, Rohit Sharma-led India will have to find a suitable replacement for Iyer before they square off versus Australia in the WTC finale, to be held in the United Kingdom soon after the conclusion of the ongoing IPL season. Meanwhile, Iyer is expected to remain out of action till June end but it will all depend on how his surgery goes abroad. The batter will be aiming to return to the Indian team before Asia Cup 2023, which will be followed by the ICC ODI World Cup -- to be held in India in October-November.

Shreyas Iyer Injury update - KKR skipper ruled out of IPL 2023, to also miss WTC Final

It hasn't been a good start for the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. After losing regular captain Shreyas Iyer due to a back injury, they lost their first game in a rain-hit encounter versus Punjab Kings (PBKS). Now, more miseries follow suit as Bangladesh's star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is now out of the season for KKR.

Shakib, Bangladesh's Test and T20I captain, has not joined the KKR squad and&nbsp;formally informed the Kolkata franchise of his unavailability for the entire season. International commitments and personal issues are being reported&nbsp;to be the main&nbsp;reason for his absence. However, Shakib's teammate Liton Das is expected to join the KKR unit&nbsp;later this week.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-unbelievable-jason-holder-pulls-off-a-stunner-in-srh-vs-rr-clash-watch-video-578548">IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! Jason Holder pulls off a stunner in SRH vs RR clash - Watch video</a>

As per Cricbuzz,&nbsp;Shakib (36), bought by the franchise for his base price of INR 1.5 crore (INR&nbsp;15 million), is understood to have called the KKR management and asked&nbsp;to be excused for the ongoing season. It is to be noted that&nbsp;once a player has been bought in the auction, he cannot be released by a franchise.&nbsp;It can only be done only after an edition.

KKR is believed to decide on the replacement player soon. However, Shakib's experience will be felt by the franchise in IPL 2023. He has played 71 matches, scoring 1,839 and claiming 63&nbsp;wickets. He was part of KKR's 2012 and 2014 triumphs.

It hasn't been a good start for the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. After losing regular captain Shreyas Iyer due to a back injury, they lost their first game in a rain-hit encounter versus Punjab Kings (PBKS).

It hasn't been a good start for the two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition. After losing regular captain Shreyas Iyer due to a back injury, they lost their first game in a rain-hit encounter versus Punjab Kings (PBKS). Now, more miseries follow suit as Bangladesh's star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is now out of the season for KKR. Shakib, Bangladesh's Test and T20I captain, has not joined the KKR squad and formally informed the Kolkata franchise of his unavailability for the entire season. International commitments and personal issues are being reported to be the main reason for his absence. However, Shakib's teammate Liton Das is expected to join the KKR unit later this week. Also Read: IPL 2023: UNBELIEVABLE! Jason Holder pulls off a stunner in SRH vs RR clash - Watch video As per Cricbuzz, Shakib (36), bought by the franchise for his base price of INR 1.5 crore (INR 15 million), is understood to have called the KKR management and asked to be excused for the ongoing season. It is to be noted that once a player has been bought in the auction, he cannot be released by a franchise. It can only be done only after an edition. KKR is believed to decide on the replacement player soon. However, Shakib's experience will be felt by the franchise in IPL 2023. He has played 71 matches, scoring 1,839 and claiming 63 wickets. He was part of KKR's 2012 and 2014 triumphs.

IPL 2023: More miseries for KKR! Bangladesh star Shakib Al Hasan out of season

IPL 2023: 100-WIN CLUB! CSK, MI, RCB and two others feature in the elite list

After Shreyas Iyer's back injury during the India-Australia Tests, his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 became doubtful. Amid such uncertainty, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were left with a huge concern; to get an additional&nbsp;batter and a new skipper for IPL 2023. On Monday (March 27), the two-time winners KKR named Nitish Rana as their captain for the forthcoming season while they remain hopeful of Iyer's return in the latter stage of the tournament.

The IPL 2023 edition kicks off on March 31 with the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) taking on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad. KKR, on the other hand, will open its campaign against the Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the&nbsp;Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on April 01. Thus, Rana will have a herculean task to fill up Iyer's place as the new skipper amid the presence of star players such as Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee, etc.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-did-my-hiv-test-team-indias-shikhar-dhawan-shares-hilarious-episode-of-when-he-got-his-first-tattoo-576219">I did my HIV Test: Team India's Shikhar Dhawan shares hilarious episode of when he got his first tattoo</a>

Many thought KKR would appoint Narine, Shardul, or Russell as their new skipper for IPL 2023. However, Kolkata have gone ahead with Rana who is a veteran in the IPL. The left-hander has been a part of the IPL since the 2016 edition and represented the Mumbai Indians (MI) and KKR (joining them in 2018).

In IPL 2022, Rana amassed&nbsp;361 runs at a strike rate of&nbsp;143.82 with two half-centuries. He has scored over 300 runs in every season for the KKR franchise. He has led the Delhi team in the Indian domestic circuit. The 29-year-old&nbsp;has also represented India in two T20Is and an ODI.&nbsp;

'While we are hopeful that Shreyas will recover but we feel fortunate that Nitish will do a great job'

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A release from the franchise said, "While we are hopeful that Shreyas will recover and participate at some stage in the IPL 2023 edition, we feel fortunate that Nitish, with the captaincy experience having led his state side in white ball cricket and the IPL experience he has had with KKR since 2018, will do a great job."
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"We are also confident that under Head Coach Chandrakant Pandit and the support staff, he will get all the support needed off the field, and the highly experienced leaders in the squad will provide all support that Nitish may need on the field. We wish him the best in his new role and Shreyas a full and speedy recovery," it added.
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Complete KKR squad for IPL 2023

Nitish Rana (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, Narayan Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Weise, Kulwant Khejrolia, Mandeep Singh, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan.&nbsp;

After Shreyas Iyer's back injury during the India-Australia Tests, his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 became doubtful. Amid such uncertainty, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were left with a huge concern; to get an additional batter and a new skipper for IPL 2023.

After Shreyas Iyer's back injury during the India-Australia Tests, his participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 became doubtful. Amid such uncertainty, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were left with a huge concern; to get an additional batter and a new skipper for IPL 2023. On Monday (March 27), the two-time winners KKR named Nitish Rana as their captain for the forthcoming season while they remain hopeful of Iyer's return in the latter stage of the tournament. The IPL 2023 edition kicks off on March 31 with the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) taking on the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad. KKR, on the other hand, will open its campaign against the Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali on April 01. Thus, Rana will have a herculean task to fill up Iyer's place as the new skipper amid the presence of star players such as Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee, etc. Also Read: I did my HIV Test: Team India's Shikhar Dhawan shares hilarious episode of when he got his first tattoo Many thought KKR would appoint Narine, Shardul, or Russell as their new skipper for IPL 2023. However, Kolkata have gone ahead with Rana who is a veteran in the IPL. The left-hander has been a part of the IPL since the 2016 edition and represented the Mumbai Indians (MI) and KKR (joining them in 2018). In IPL 2022, Rana amassed 361 runs at a strike rate of 143.82 with two half-centuries. He has scored over 300 runs in every season for the KKR franchise. He has led the Delhi team in the Indian domestic circuit. The 29-year-old has also represented India in two T20Is and an ODI. 'While we are hopeful that Shreyas will recover but we feel fortunate that Nitish will do a great job' A release from the franchise said, "While we are hopeful that Shreyas will recover and participate at some stage in the IPL 2023 edition, we feel fortunate that Nitish, with the captaincy experience having led his state side in white ball cricket and the IPL experience he has had with KKR since 2018, will do a great job." "We are also confident that under Head Coach Chandrakant Pandit and the support staff, he will get all the support needed off the field, and the highly experienced leaders in the squad will provide all support that Nitish may need on the field. We wish him the best in his new role and Shreyas a full and speedy recovery," it added. Complete KKR squad for IPL 2023 Nitish Rana (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, Narayan Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Weise, Kulwant Khejrolia, Mandeep Singh, Litton Das, Shakib Al Hasan.

IPL 2023: Not Narine, Shardul or Russell! Nitish Rana named KKR captain after Shreyas Iyer's injury

IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are jolted with yet another blow as ace Kiwi seamer Lockie Ferguson is likely to miss a few early games in the upcoming season due to a hamstring injury. New Zealander will also not appear in the first&nbsp;ODI against Sri Lanka, which starts on March 25th in Auckland.

Following news of Shreyas Iyer remaining doubtful for the complete season due to his persisting back injury, Lockie’s hamstring&nbsp;further dents KKR’s motivation ahead of IPL 2023. Moreover, the overseas duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das will also miss a few games in the beginning as Bangladesh is scheduled to face Ireland in three T20Is and a one-off Test that ends on April 8th.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2023-premier-tournament-to-stay-in-pakistan-but-india-likely-to-play-at-this-neutral-venue-575090">Asia Cup 2023: Premier tournament to stay in Pakistan, but India likely to play at THIS neutral venue</a>

As reported earlier, three IPL-bound New Zealand players – Ferguson, Glenn Philips, and Finn Allen were supposed to land in India on March 26th; however, with an untimely injury to Lockie, it remains unclear by when he will be deemed fit and available for KKR in IPL 2023, which starts on March 31st.

Regarded as one of the fastest bowlers around Ferguson, alongside Afghanistan keeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, got traded from Gujarat Titans (GT) in an all-cash deal ahead of December’s auction. For GT, Ferguson picked up 12 wickets in 13 matches and helped the newly-added franchise lift the trophy in their maiden season.

The right-hand seamer was part of the KKR setup from 2019 to 2021, having played just 18 matches across three seasons, picking 21 wickets. Later, during the 2022 mega auction, Gujarat spent INR 10 crores on him and bagged his service only to trade him in the next season.

As things stand, if Ferguson remains unavailable for the initial few games for KKR, his compatriot Tim Southee could be a sure-starter in the XI alongside Umesh Yadav. Meanwhile, for KKR, the bigger question here remains who lead them in this season? The answers to this shall be out soon as the 16th edition of the cash-rich commences in one week's time.

Kolkata Knight Riders will open their IPL 2023 campaign against Punjab Kings on April 1st.

IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are jolted with yet another blow as ace Kiwi seamer Lockie Ferguson is likely to miss a few early games in the upcoming season due to a hamstring injury.

IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are jolted with yet another blow as ace Kiwi seamer Lockie Ferguson is likely to miss a few early games in the upcoming season due to a hamstring injury. New Zealander will also not appear in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, which starts on March 25th in Auckland. Following news of Shreyas Iyer remaining doubtful for the complete season due to his persisting back injury, Lockie’s hamstring further dents KKR’s motivation ahead of IPL 2023. Moreover, the overseas duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das will also miss a few games in the beginning as Bangladesh is scheduled to face Ireland in three T20Is and a one-off Test that ends on April 8th. ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2023: Premier tournament to stay in Pakistan, but India likely to play at THIS neutral venue As reported earlier, three IPL-bound New Zealand players – Ferguson, Glenn Philips, and Finn Allen were supposed to land in India on March 26th; however, with an untimely injury to Lockie, it remains unclear by when he will be deemed fit and available for KKR in IPL 2023, which starts on March 31st. Regarded as one of the fastest bowlers around Ferguson, alongside Afghanistan keeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, got traded from Gujarat Titans (GT) in an all-cash deal ahead of December’s auction. For GT, Ferguson picked up 12 wickets in 13 matches and helped the newly-added franchise lift the trophy in their maiden season. The right-hand seamer was part of the KKR setup from 2019 to 2021, having played just 18 matches across three seasons, picking 21 wickets. Later, during the 2022 mega auction, Gujarat spent INR 10 crores on him and bagged his service only to trade him in the next season. As things stand, if Ferguson remains unavailable for the initial few games for KKR, his compatriot Tim Southee could be a sure-starter in the XI alongside Umesh Yadav. Meanwhile, for KKR, the bigger question here remains who lead them in this season? The answers to this shall be out soon as the 16th edition of the cash-rich commences in one week's time. Kolkata Knight Riders will open their IPL 2023 campaign against Punjab Kings on April 1st.

IPL 2023: Worries mount for KKR as ace seamer doubtful for opening few games due to hamstring injury

The forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to commence on March 31 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. The opening game will see the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) take on MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK).&nbsp;

Just like every other season, the upcoming IPL edition is also keenly awaited. It will be the 16th edition of the tournament, which kicked off in 2008. Several records have been broken in the tournament since it's inception. Many captains have led the existing and now-defunct teams whereas only a handful of them have tasted success by winning the IPL championship.&nbsp;

Apart from only one top franchise, every other team -- including only those who have been a part of the tournament since 2008 or more than five seasons -- have had an overseas captain for a brief or significant period. However, CSK is the only team to not have had a foreign captain in their rich history.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-arch-rivals-to-face-off-in-historic-tie-csk-to-host-mi-in-1000th-game-of-mega-event-572818">IPL 2023: ARCH-RIVALS to face-off in HISTORIC TIE! CSK to host MI in 1000th game of mega event</a>

Dhoni has been CSK's captain since the franchise first entered the IPL, with Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja taking over the role for a limited period.&nbsp;

Under Dhoni, CSK have won the IPL on as many as four occasions and ended second on five instances; playing the finale nine times. They have played the final in the 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021.

Chennai ended at the ninth spot in the ten-team IPL 2022. They will aim to revamp in style this time around in what could be Dhoni's last IPL season.

CSK&nbsp;squad for IPL 2023

MS Dhoni (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Subhranshu Senapati, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes, Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, Kyle Jamieson, Ajay Mandal, Bhagath Varma

The forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to commence on March 31 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. The opening game will see the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) take on MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

The forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 edition is set to commence on March 31 at the iconic Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad. The opening game will see the defending champions Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT) take on MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Just like every other season, the upcoming IPL edition is also keenly awaited. It will be the 16th edition of the tournament, which kicked off in 2008. Several records have been broken in the tournament since it's inception. Many captains have led the existing and now-defunct teams whereas only a handful of them have tasted success by winning the IPL championship. Apart from only one top franchise, every other team -- including only those who have been a part of the tournament since 2008 or more than five seasons -- have had an overseas captain for a brief or significant period. However, CSK is the only team to not have had a foreign captain in their rich history. Also read: IPL 2023: ARCH-RIVALS to face-off in HISTORIC TIE! CSK to host MI in 1000th game of mega event Dhoni has been CSK's captain since the franchise first entered the IPL, with Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja taking over the role for a limited period. Under Dhoni, CSK have won the IPL on as many as four occasions and ended second on five instances; playing the finale nine times. They have played the final in the 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021. Chennai ended at the ninth spot in the ten-team IPL 2022. They will aim to revamp in style this time around in what could be Dhoni's last IPL season. CSK squad for IPL 2023 MS Dhoni (c), Ravindra Jadeja, Devon Conway, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ambati Rayudu, Subhranshu Senapati, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Dwaine Pretorius, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes, Shaik Rasheed, Nishant Sindhu, Kyle Jamieson, Ajay Mandal, Bhagath Varma

IPL 2023: CSK, MI, RCB or KKR? Which is the ONLY team to not have an overseas captain

KKR 2023 IPL full schedule: BCCI released the IPL 2023 schedule on February 17 according to which Kolkata Knight Riders will be playing its first match of the edition on April 1 against Punjab Kings in Mohali. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, will play its first home match on April 6 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The two-time IPL champion KKR had a mediocre season last year, and this year, the team will push hard to get back on the right track. KKR is placed in group A of the IPL 2023, along with other teams including Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. KKR will play a total of 14 matches in the league stage of IPL 2023.

Here is the KKR 2023 full schedule; with fixture, date, time and venue of all matches of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023

Match 1: April 1 - Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Mohali (3:30PM IST) 
Match 2: April 6 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) 
Match 3: April 9 - Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Ahmedabad (3:30PM IST) 
Match 4: April 14 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) 
Match 5: April 16 - Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai (3:30PM IST) 
Match 6: April 20 - Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi (7:30PM IST) 
Match 7: April 23 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) 
Match 8: April 26 - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Bengaluru (7:30PM IST) 
Match 9: April 29 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans, Kolkata (3:30PM IST) 
Match 10: May 4 - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Hyderabad (7:30PM IST) 
Match 11: May 8 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) 
Match 12: May 11 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) 
Match 13: May 14 - Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai (7:30PM IST) 
Match 14: May 20 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata (7:30PM IST)

<h2>Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) full squad for IPL 2023</h2>

Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, N. Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Mandeep Singh, Shakib Al Hasan.

<h2>Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2023</h2>

Shreyas Iyer will lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team this season as well, as decided in the IPL auction last year. Shreyas Iyer was purchased by Kolkata for Rs 12.25 crore. Under his leadership, the team ended the league stage of IPL 2022 in seventh position.&nbsp;

When will KKR play its first match of IPL 2023?

KKR will play its first match of IPL 2023 on April 1 against Punjab Kings.

Where will KKR’s first match of IPL 2023 be played?

KKR’s first match of IPL 2023 will be played in Mohali.

Who will be KKR’s captain during IPL 2023?

Shreyas Iyer will lead the KKR camp during IPL 2023.

When will the final match of IPL 2023 be played?

The final match of IPL 2023 will be played on May 28.

KKR 2023 IPL full schedule: BCCI released the IPL 2023 schedule on February 17 according to which Kolkata Knight Riders will be playing its first match of the edition on April 1 against Punjab Kings in Mohali.

KKR 2023 IPL full schedule: BCCI released the IPL 2023 schedule on February 17 according to which Kolkata Knight Riders will be playing its first match of the edition on April 1 against Punjab Kings in Mohali. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, will play its first home match on April 6 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The two-time IPL champion KKR had a mediocre season last year, and this year, the team will push hard to get back on the right track. KKR is placed in group A of the IPL 2023, along with other teams including Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. KKR will play a total of 14 matches in the league stage of IPL 2023. Here is the KKR 2023 full schedule; with fixture, date, time and venue of all matches of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2023 Match 1: April 1 - Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Mohali (3:30PM IST) Match 2: April 6 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) Match 3: April 9 - Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Ahmedabad (3:30PM IST) Match 4: April 14 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) Match 5: April 16 - Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai (3:30PM IST) Match 6: April 20 - Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi (7:30PM IST) Match 7: April 23 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) Match 8: April 26 - Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Bengaluru (7:30PM IST) Match 9: April 29 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans, Kolkata (3:30PM IST) Match 10: May 4 - Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Hyderabad (7:30PM IST) Match 11: May 8 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) Match 12: May 11 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) Match 13: May 14 - Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai (7:30PM IST) Match 14: May 20 - Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata (7:30PM IST) Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) full squad for IPL 2023 Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, N. Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Mandeep Singh, Shakib Al Hasan. Captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2023 Shreyas Iyer will lead the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team this season as well, as decided in the IPL auction last year. Shreyas Iyer was purchased by Kolkata for Rs 12.25 crore. Under his leadership, the team ended the league stage of IPL 2022 in seventh position. When will KKR play its first match of IPL 2023? KKR will play its first match of IPL 2023 on April 1 against Punjab Kings. Where will KKR’s first match of IPL 2023 be played? KKR’s first match of IPL 2023 will be played in Mohali. Who will be KKR’s captain during IPL 2023? Shreyas Iyer will lead the KKR camp during IPL 2023. When will the final match of IPL 2023 be played? The final match of IPL 2023 will be played on May 28.

KKR 2023 IPL full schedule: Check Kolkata Knight Riders fixture, date, time, venues, captain & full squad

Star Bangladesh batter Litton Das is looking forward to sharing the dressing room with some of the biggest names in cricket after getting picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 50 lacs at the IPL mini-auction in Kochi on December 23rd. Bagging his first IPL contract, Das feels picking up different players’ brains will only help him get better at his game – something that will boost his mental strength as well.

Talking to Sportstar about the cash-rich league, Bangladesh’s all-format batter said IPL is a massive platform and that a lot of high-intensity games are played there.

"IPL is a huge platform and you get to play in high-intensity games. Sharing the dressing room with some of the big names in world cricket will help me immensely because the more you get to know them, the better it is for you to pick their brains and learn a thing or two. Once you interact with them, it will help me better my game and boost my mental strength," Litton Das said.

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Excited 😀🤙 <a href="https://twitter.com/KKRiders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KKRiders</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmiKKR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmiKKR</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IPLAuctions?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IPLAuctions</a> <a href="https://t.co/USvzHUcFmT">pic.twitter.com/USvzHUcFmT</a>
— Litton Das (@LittonOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/LittonOfficial/status/1606315308591255552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 23, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rishabh-pant-to-take-at-least-three-to-six-months-to-recover-set-to-miss-australia-series-ipl-2023-548256">Rishabh Pant to take at least three to six months to recover; set to miss Australia series, IPL 2023</a>

Captaining for the first time in ODIs against India in the recently-concluded series, Litton helped his team win the One-Dayers 2-1. Though his leadership throughout the series was impressive, Das failed to convert his good starts into big scores on most occasions. In three matches played, he could score just 77 runs.

While during the Test series which India won 2-0, Das was among the runs for Bangladesh, putting up performances&nbsp;when the chips were mostly down. After Zakir Hasan, he was Bangladesh's second-highest run-scorer with 141 runs across four runs.

As the Bangla Tigers are now gearing up for 2023 with the Bangladesh Premier League, England and Ireland series slated to take place, Das feels for them to prosper Bangladesh need to begin well.

"Our dream is to grow as a team and fix the weak links, but I think that 2022 hasn’t been bad for us. We plan to start 2023 on a good note as it’s another action-packed year and I would not want to think too much about planning as it varies from series to series," Das said.

"We start the year with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), then we have series against England and Ireland, so there’s a lot to play for and we hope to play to our strengths," he added.

In T20Is, Das has played 65 matches scoring&nbsp;1388 runs at a strike rate of 128.88.

Star Bangladesh batter Litton Das is looking forward to sharing the dressing room with some of the biggest names in cricket after getting picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 50 lacs at the IPL mini-auction in Kochi on December 23rd.

Star Bangladesh batter Litton Das is looking forward to sharing the dressing room with some of the biggest names in cricket after getting picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 50 lacs at the IPL mini-auction in Kochi on December 23rd. Bagging his first IPL contract, Das feels picking up different players’ brains will only help him get better at his game – something that will boost his mental strength as well. Talking to Sportstar about the cash-rich league, Bangladesh’s all-format batter said IPL is a massive platform and that a lot of high-intensity games are played there. "IPL is a huge platform and you get to play in high-intensity games. Sharing the dressing room with some of the big names in world cricket will help me immensely because the more you get to know them, the better it is for you to pick their brains and learn a thing or two. Once you interact with them, it will help me better my game and boost my mental strength," Litton Das said. Excited 😀🤙 @KKRiders #AmiKKR #IPLAuctions pic.twitter.com/USvzHUcFmT — Litton Das (@LittonOfficial) December 23, 2022 × ALSO READ: Rishabh Pant to take at least three to six months to recover; set to miss Australia series, IPL 2023 Captaining for the first time in ODIs against India in the recently-concluded series, Litton helped his team win the One-Dayers 2-1. Though his leadership throughout the series was impressive, Das failed to convert his good starts into big scores on most occasions. In three matches played, he could score just 77 runs. While during the Test series which India won 2-0, Das was among the runs for Bangladesh, putting up performances when the chips were mostly down. After Zakir Hasan, he was Bangladesh's second-highest run-scorer with 141 runs across four runs. As the Bangla Tigers are now gearing up for 2023 with the Bangladesh Premier League, England and Ireland series slated to take place, Das feels for them to prosper Bangladesh need to begin well. "Our dream is to grow as a team and fix the weak links, but I think that 2022 hasn’t been bad for us. We plan to start 2023 on a good note as it’s another action-packed year and I would not want to think too much about planning as it varies from series to series," Das said. "We start the year with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), then we have series against England and Ireland, so there’s a lot to play for and we hope to play to our strengths," he added. In T20Is, Das has played 65 matches scoring 1388 runs at a strike rate of 128.88.

IPL 2023: 'Sharing dressing room with some big names will help me', says KKR new recruit Litton Das

Kolkata Knight Riders added a bunch of new faces to their squad at the IPL auction 2023 with Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan emerging as their costliest buy. He was picked for Rs 1.5 crore in the final moments of the auction along with compatriot Litton Das for Rs 50 lakh.

KKR did the bulk of their recruitment ahead of the auction with Shardul Thakur coming from Delhi Capitals and the duo of Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz coming from Gujarat Titans.

In return, all-rounder Aman Khan was traded to the Capitals.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2023-auction-sam-curran-becomes-the-most-expensive-player-ever-sold-to-punjab-kings-for-185-crores-545930">Sam Curran becomes the most expensive player ever, sold to Punjab Kings for Rs 18.5 crores</a>

Among the new buys, N Jagadeesan was the most attractive following the wicketkeeper batsman’s exploits in the domestic circuit. The former Chennai Super Kings player had an amazing season for Tamil Nadu as he created history by scoring five back-to-back centuries in List A cricket.

When it comes to Indian talent, KKR also found two solid picks in Vaibhav Arora and Mandeep Singh.

Players bought in the auction: N. Jagadeesan (INR 90 lakh), Vaibhav Arora (INR 60 lakh), Suyash Sharma (INR 20 lakh), David Wiese (INR 1 crore), Kulwant Khejroliya (INR 20 lakh), Litton Das (INR 50 lakh), Mandeep Singh (INR 50 lakh), Shakib Al Hasan (INR 1.5 crore)

KKR Complete Squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, N. Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Mandeep Singh, Shakib Al Hasan

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Kolkata Knight Riders added a bunch of new faces to their squad at the IPL auction 2023 with Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan emerging as their costliest buy.

Kolkata Knight Riders added a bunch of new faces to their squad at the IPL auction 2023 with Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan emerging as their costliest buy. He was picked for Rs 1.5 crore in the final moments of the auction along with compatriot Litton Das for Rs 50 lakh. KKR did the bulk of their recruitment ahead of the auction with Shardul Thakur coming from Delhi Capitals and the duo of Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz coming from Gujarat Titans. In return, all-rounder Aman Khan was traded to the Capitals. Also read | Sam Curran becomes the most expensive player ever, sold to Punjab Kings for Rs 18.5 crores Among the new buys, N Jagadeesan was the most attractive following the wicketkeeper batsman’s exploits in the domestic circuit. The former Chennai Super Kings player had an amazing season for Tamil Nadu as he created history by scoring five back-to-back centuries in List A cricket. When it comes to Indian talent, KKR also found two solid picks in Vaibhav Arora and Mandeep Singh. Players bought in the auction: N. Jagadeesan (INR 90 lakh), Vaibhav Arora (INR 60 lakh), Suyash Sharma (INR 20 lakh), David Wiese (INR 1 crore), Kulwant Khejroliya (INR 20 lakh), Litton Das (INR 50 lakh), Mandeep Singh (INR 50 lakh), Shakib Al Hasan (INR 1.5 crore) KKR Complete Squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, N. Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Wiese, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Mandeep Singh, Shakib Al Hasan

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL Auction 2023 complete players' list, full KKR Squad

IPL Auction 2023: KKR team, two-time champions of the World’s most-watched cricket tournament, finished seventh in the last season. This season, however, they look all set to reclaim the past glory with some big names in their squad. The team has retained a total of 14 players, while it has released 15 players this year. The team has a total of 11 vacancies in their squad, with 3 reserved for overseas players. This year, 991 players have registered for the IPL auction, and KKR would be looking forward to purchasing 11 of them featuring on the long list.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-auction-2023-available-slots-team-wise-budget-and-details-of-all-991-players-listed-for-auction-540162">IPL Auction 2023: Available balance, full list of registered players, team-wise budget and top players details</a>

<h2>The list of released players by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)</h2>

Kolkata Knight Riders have released a total of 15 players this season. This means that the 15 players are up for grabs for the other 9 teams of IPL. They won’t be playing for Kolkata this year. The complete list of the released players is given below:

<ol>
	<li>A. Finch&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Abhijeet Tomar&nbsp;</li>
	<li>A. Rahane&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Alex Hales&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Ashok Sharma&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Baba Indrajith&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Chamika Karunaratne&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Mohammad &nbsp;Nabi&nbsp;</li>
	<li>P. Cummins&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Pratham Singh&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Ramesh Kumar</li>
	<li>Rasikh Dar&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Sam Billings&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Sheldon Jackson&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Shivam Mavi&nbsp;</li>
</ol>

<h2>The list of retained players by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)</h2>

The KKR has retained a total of 14 players. These 14 players will continue to be members of the purple team and no other IPL team would be able to trade them. Here is the list of players retained by the KKR in the IPL 2023 season:

&nbsp;

<ol>
	<li>Shreyas Iyer</li>
	<li>Gurbaj</li>
	<li>Rinku Singh</li>
	<li>Andre Russell</li>
	<li>Sunil Narine</li>
	<li>Nitish Rana</li>
	<li>Anukul Roy</li>
	<li>Venkatesh Iyer</li>
	<li>Shardul Thakur</li>
	<li>Tim Southee</li>
	<li>Lockie Ferguson</li>
	<li>Umesh Yadav</li>
	<li>Varun Chakraborty</li>
	<li>Harshit Rana</li>
</ol>

<h2>Available balance with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):</h2>

The KKR has already spent 87.95 Cr rupees on retaining the 14 players mentioned above. It needs to fill the vacancy of 11 players in its squads with the remaining balance of 7.95 Cr. In the IPL auction 2023, each team is subject to a total salary cap of INR 95 crores. This amount is 5 Cr more than the previous season.

<h2>KKR’s new captain, batting and bowling coach details</h2>

KKR has retained Shreyas Iyer as the captain of the team for the IPL 2023 season. The team put up an extremely poor performance last season under this captaincy. Chandrakant Pandit is KKR’s head coach. Ten Doeschate is the team’s fielding coach, while Brendon McCullum is the team’s batting coach. In March this year, Bharat Arun was appointed as KKR’s bowling coach.

IPL Auction 2023: KKR team, two-time champions of the World’s most-watched cricket tournament, finished seventh in the last season. This season, however, they look all set to reclaim the past glory with some big names in their squad.

IPL Auction 2023: KKR team, two-time champions of the World’s most-watched cricket tournament, finished seventh in the last season. This season, however, they look all set to reclaim the past glory with some big names in their squad. The team has retained a total of 14 players, while it has released 15 players this year. The team has a total of 11 vacancies in their squad, with 3 reserved for overseas players. This year, 991 players have registered for the IPL auction, and KKR would be looking forward to purchasing 11 of them featuring on the long list. Also Read | IPL Auction 2023: Available balance, full list of registered players, team-wise budget and top players details The list of released players by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Kolkata Knight Riders have released a total of 15 players this season. This means that the 15 players are up for grabs for the other 9 teams of IPL. They won’t be playing for Kolkata this year. The complete list of the released players is given below: A. Finch Abhijeet Tomar A. Rahane Alex Hales Ashok Sharma Baba Indrajith Chamika Karunaratne Mohammad Nabi P. Cummins Pratham Singh Ramesh Kumar Rasikh Dar Sam Billings Sheldon Jackson Shivam Mavi The list of retained players by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) The KKR has retained a total of 14 players. These 14 players will continue to be members of the purple team and no other IPL team would be able to trade them. Here is the list of players retained by the KKR in the IPL 2023 season: Shreyas Iyer Gurbaj Rinku Singh Andre Russell Sunil Narine Nitish Rana Anukul Roy Venkatesh Iyer Shardul Thakur Tim Southee Lockie Ferguson Umesh Yadav Varun Chakraborty Harshit Rana Available balance with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): The KKR has already spent 87.95 Cr rupees on retaining the 14 players mentioned above. It needs to fill the vacancy of 11 players in its squads with the remaining balance of 7.95 Cr. In the IPL auction 2023, each team is subject to a total salary cap of INR 95 crores. This amount is 5 Cr more than the previous season. KKR’s new captain, batting and bowling coach details KKR has retained Shreyas Iyer as the captain of the team for the IPL 2023 season. The team put up an extremely poor performance last season under this captaincy. Chandrakant Pandit is KKR’s head coach. Ten Doeschate is the team’s fielding coach, while Brendon McCullum is the team’s batting coach. In March this year, Bharat Arun was appointed as KKR’s bowling coach.

IPL Auction 2023: KKR retained & released players list, new captain, key players, batting & bowling coach

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continue to make moves in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) trading window as they have now reportedly roped in Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur from Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL 2023 mini-auction. KKR had earlier traded New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans.

As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, Kolkata Knight Riders have traded Shardul from Delhi Capitals in an all-cash deal. Shardul was the most expensive fast bowler in the Delhi Capitals squad after being bought for a huge sum of Rs 10.75 crore (INR 107.5 million) at the mega auction last year.

The Capitals spent big money on acquiring his services but the pace all-rounder failed to impress with his performances in IPL 2022. Shardul picked up 15 wickets in 14 matches but conceded at an economy of 9.79. He also failed to contribute much with the bat.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kolkata-knight-riders-trade-lockie-ferguson-and-rahmanullah-gurbaz-from-gujarat-titans-ahead-of-ipl-2023-533710">Kolkata Knight Riders trade Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2023</a>

Delhi Capitals had bought him at the mega auction last year following his heroics with his former side Chennai Super Kings in the last four seasons. However, the move didn't work out for the Rishabh Pant-led side, who failed to make it to the playoffs last season.

As per the report, CSK were among the teams interested in roping in Shardul from Delhi Capitals along with the likes of Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans but the franchise decided to trade him to KKR.

With thee trades completed already in this window, KKR have already spent huge money and will have to let go of a number of players from their existing squad to head into the mini-auction with a decent purse.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-names-most-valuable-team-of-t20-world-cup-2022-virat-kohli-and-suryakumar-yadav-make-the-cut-534021">ICC names Most Valuable Team of T20 World Cup 2022, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav make the cut</a>

KKR were left with only Rs 45 lakh (INR 4.5 million) after the mega auction last year and will have to release a lot of players to register both Shardul and Lockie, who have cost them Rs 20.75 crore (INR 207.5 million) combined.

Each team had a purse of Rs 90 crore (INR 900 million) at the mega auction last year and will get an additional Rs 5 crore (INR 50 Million) added to their remaining purse at the mini-auction ahead of IPL 023.

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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continue to make moves in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) trading window as they have now reportedly roped in Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur from Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL 2023 mini-auction.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) continue to make moves in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) trading window as they have now reportedly roped in Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur from Delhi Capitals (DC) ahead of the IPL 2023 mini-auction. KKR had earlier traded New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans. As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, Kolkata Knight Riders have traded Shardul from Delhi Capitals in an all-cash deal. Shardul was the most expensive fast bowler in the Delhi Capitals squad after being bought for a huge sum of Rs 10.75 crore (INR 107.5 million) at the mega auction last year. The Capitals spent big money on acquiring his services but the pace all-rounder failed to impress with his performances in IPL 2022. Shardul picked up 15 wickets in 14 matches but conceded at an economy of 9.79. He also failed to contribute much with the bat. Also Read: Kolkata Knight Riders trade Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2023 Delhi Capitals had bought him at the mega auction last year following his heroics with his former side Chennai Super Kings in the last four seasons. However, the move didn't work out for the Rishabh Pant-led side, who failed to make it to the playoffs last season. As per the report, CSK were among the teams interested in roping in Shardul from Delhi Capitals along with the likes of Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans but the franchise decided to trade him to KKR. With thee trades completed already in this window, KKR have already spent huge money and will have to let go of a number of players from their existing squad to head into the mini-auction with a decent purse. Also Read: ICC names Most Valuable Team of T20 World Cup 2022, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav make the cut KKR were left with only Rs 45 lakh (INR 4.5 million) after the mega auction last year and will have to release a lot of players to register both Shardul and Lockie, who have cost them Rs 20.75 crore (INR 207.5 million) combined. Each team had a purse of Rs 90 crore (INR 900 million) at the mega auction last year and will get an additional Rs 5 crore (INR 50 Million) added to their remaining purse at the mini-auction ahead of IPL 023. ×

Delhi Capitals trade their most expensive pacer Shardul Thakur to KKR ahead of IPL 2023 - Report

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made their first move in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) trading window as they have traded New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson and Afghanistan wicket-keeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans (GT) ahead of the mini-auction next month.

Earlier there were reports that KKR were in talks with the Titans to sign two of their players. The trade was confirmed by the Indian Premier League on Sunday (November 13). Ferguson was earlier part of the KKR squad before being released and bought by the Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2022.

He will return to his former side ahead of the 2023 edition of the tournament after playing a key role in Gujarat Titans' maiden title triumph last season. Ferguson picked up 12 wickets in 13 matches for the reigning champions but has now&nbsp;been deemed excessive to the team's demands.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan star Gurbaz was roped in by the Titans as a replacement for injured Jason Roy last season. The Titans had the choice to retain him and let go of Roy but they have instead parted ways with the Afghanistan cricketer, who will now down the purple and gold next season.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uk-pm-rishi-sunak-sends-special-message-to-england-team-ahead-of-t20-world-cup-final-533686">UK PM Rishi Sunak sends special message to England team ahead of T20 World Cup final</a>

"New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been traded from Gujarat Titans to Kolkata Knight Riders for the upcoming TATA IPL 2023. He played 13 matches for Gujarat Titans and picked 12 wickets that included a 4-wicket haul," read a statement from IPL.

"Kolkata Knight Riders have also traded Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans. He was included in the Gujarat Titans squad in the 2022 TATA IPL edition as a replacement for England batter Jason Roy but did not play any game last season," it added.

Ferguson spent three seasons with KKR from IPL 2019 to 2012. He played a total of 18 matches in three seasons with KKR and picked up 21 wickets. The Kiwi fast bowler played a key role in helping KKR reach the final of the 2021 season with 13 wickets from just eight matches.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jason-behrendorff-traded-from-rcb-to-mumbai-indians-ahead-of-ipl-2023-533623">Jason Behrendorff traded from RCB to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2023</a>

However, he was released by KKR ahead of the mega auction in 2021 and was bought by Gujarat Titans for a sum of a whopping Rs 10 crore (INR 100 million). With his addition, KKR have bolstered their pace attack but will be mindful of their purse heading into the auction.

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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made their first move in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) trading window as they have traded New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson and Afghanistan wicket-keeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans (GT) ahead of the mini-auction next month.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made their first move in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) trading window as they have traded New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson and Afghanistan wicket-keeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans (GT) ahead of the mini-auction next month. Earlier there were reports that KKR were in talks with the Titans to sign two of their players. The trade was confirmed by the Indian Premier League on Sunday (November 13). Ferguson was earlier part of the KKR squad before being released and bought by the Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2022. He will return to his former side ahead of the 2023 edition of the tournament after playing a key role in Gujarat Titans' maiden title triumph last season. Ferguson picked up 12 wickets in 13 matches for the reigning champions but has now been deemed excessive to the team's demands. Meanwhile, Afghanistan star Gurbaz was roped in by the Titans as a replacement for injured Jason Roy last season. The Titans had the choice to retain him and let go of Roy but they have instead parted ways with the Afghanistan cricketer, who will now down the purple and gold next season. Also Read: UK PM Rishi Sunak sends special message to England team ahead of T20 World Cup final "New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been traded from Gujarat Titans to Kolkata Knight Riders for the upcoming TATA IPL 2023. He played 13 matches for Gujarat Titans and picked 12 wickets that included a 4-wicket haul," read a statement from IPL. "Kolkata Knight Riders have also traded Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans. He was included in the Gujarat Titans squad in the 2022 TATA IPL edition as a replacement for England batter Jason Roy but did not play any game last season," it added. Ferguson spent three seasons with KKR from IPL 2019 to 2012. He played a total of 18 matches in three seasons with KKR and picked up 21 wickets. The Kiwi fast bowler played a key role in helping KKR reach the final of the 2021 season with 13 wickets from just eight matches. Also Read: Jason Behrendorff traded from RCB to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2023 However, he was released by KKR ahead of the mega auction in 2021 and was bought by Gujarat Titans for a sum of a whopping Rs 10 crore (INR 100 million). With his addition, KKR have bolstered their pace attack but will be mindful of their purse heading into the auction. ×

Kolkata Knight Riders trade Lockie Ferguson and Rahmanullah Gurbaz from Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2023

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore has revealed Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are open to the idea of tying down the best T20 players around the world on an annual 12-month contract. IPL currently has ten teams and a number of franchises have their presence in T20 leagues outside of India as well.

While IPL teams currently offer contracts to the players for only a certain amount of time for the season, they are exploring the idea of contracting players for full 12 months in a year. KKR is one of the IPL franchises with a global presence as the Knight Riders currently have four teams under their belt.

The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned KKR also owns the&nbsp;Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and a team each in the&nbsp;International League T20 (UAE), and Major League Cricket (USA) which are set to be launched next year. Contracting players for 12 months will allow the franchises to use them in their teams across different leagues around the globe.

Mysore believes it will be 'nirvana' for IPL franchises if they can have a certain amount of contracted players who they can use for their teams in different leagues as it will help them enhance their brand and further increase their fan base across the globe.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-dont-need-dravids-thinking-kris-srikanth-criticises-india-for-picking-iyer-over-hooda-in-1st-t20i-502006">'We don't need Dravid's thinking': Kris Srikanth criticises India for picking Iyer over Hooda in 1st T20I</a>

While KKR have&nbsp;4 franchises under their umbrella, recently, the owners of six different IPL teams purchased a franchise each in South Africa's upcoming T20 league to expand their presence globally. Mysore believes offering annual contracts will also provide more opportunities to top cricketers.

"If it happened that way at some point in the future, that'd be great. What we want to create is a common platform, a system, and a culture that allows us to participate around the year - enhancing our brand, building our fan base, and providing opportunities for cricketers around the world. And in the process, you build hopefully a successful business around it," Mysore told Telegraph.co.uk&nbsp;in an interview.

"In an ideal world, sure—because that gives us the opportunity to make our vision and our strategy even stronger. If we were able to have X number of contracted players and were able to use them all in different leagues, I think that would be nirvana. Hopefully, someday it will happen. I wouldn't be surprised if it did," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kl-rahul-to-miss-zimbabwe-tour-due-to-delayed-recovery-sundar-chahar-return-to-odi-squad-502119">KL Rahul to miss Zimbabwe tour due to delayed recovery; Sundar, Chahar return to ODI squad</a>

BCCI open to the idea of players paying in overseas T20 leagues: Mysore

While IPL franchises are aiming to expand their presence globally and own franchises in different T20 leagues overseas, there lies a major hurdle in their way. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) still doesn't allow active Indian players to take part in overseas leagues. Only retired Indian cricketers or those not active in either domestic or international cricket are allowed to play in the leagues overseas.

However, Mysore revealed that BCCI is open to the idea of letting Indian players ply their trade in T20 leagues outside the country. The KKR CEO said BCCI is working to figure out what will work in the best interest of Indian cricket.

"Certainly, we're hoping that will happen at some point in the future. When we broach this topic, the BCCI say, 'Yeah, we have to figure out how to do something'," said Mysore.

"I think they have an open mind. But they need to figure out what's best for Indian cricket and for Indian players. That's how they would be thinking about it, which is fair enough. Some very good minds would be applying their minds to this idea. If it all comes together, it'd be terrific," he added. 
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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore has revealed Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are open to the idea of tying down the best T20 players around the world on an annual 12-month contract.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) CEO Venky Mysore has revealed Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises are open to the idea of tying down the best T20 players around the world on an annual 12-month contract. IPL currently has ten teams and a number of franchises have their presence in T20 leagues outside of India as well. While IPL teams currently offer contracts to the players for only a certain amount of time for the season, they are exploring the idea of contracting players for full 12 months in a year. KKR is one of the IPL franchises with a global presence as the Knight Riders currently have four teams under their belt. The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned KKR also owns the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), and a team each in the International League T20 (UAE), and Major League Cricket (USA) which are set to be launched next year. Contracting players for 12 months will allow the franchises to use them in their teams across different leagues around the globe. Mysore believes it will be 'nirvana' for IPL franchises if they can have a certain amount of contracted players who they can use for their teams in different leagues as it will help them enhance their brand and further increase their fan base across the globe. Also Read: 'We don't need Dravid's thinking': Kris Srikanth criticises India for picking Iyer over Hooda in 1st T20I While KKR have 4 franchises under their umbrella, recently, the owners of six different IPL teams purchased a franchise each in South Africa's upcoming T20 league to expand their presence globally. Mysore believes offering annual contracts will also provide more opportunities to top cricketers. "If it happened that way at some point in the future, that'd be great. What we want to create is a common platform, a system, and a culture that allows us to participate around the year - enhancing our brand, building our fan base, and providing opportunities for cricketers around the world. And in the process, you build hopefully a successful business around it," Mysore told Telegraph.co.uk in an interview. "In an ideal world, sure—because that gives us the opportunity to make our vision and our strategy even stronger. If we were able to have X number of contracted players and were able to use them all in different leagues, I think that would be nirvana. Hopefully, someday it will happen. I wouldn't be surprised if it did," he added. Also Read: KL Rahul to miss Zimbabwe tour due to delayed recovery; Sundar, Chahar return to ODI squad BCCI open to the idea of players paying in overseas T20 leagues: Mysore While IPL franchises are aiming to expand their presence globally and own franchises in different T20 leagues overseas, there lies a major hurdle in their way. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) still doesn't allow active Indian players to take part in overseas leagues. Only retired Indian cricketers or those not active in either domestic or international cricket are allowed to play in the leagues overseas. However, Mysore revealed that BCCI is open to the idea of letting Indian players ply their trade in T20 leagues outside the country. The KKR CEO said BCCI is working to figure out what will work in the best interest of Indian cricket. "Certainly, we're hoping that will happen at some point in the future. When we broach this topic, the BCCI say, 'Yeah, we have to figure out how to do something'," said Mysore. "I think they have an open mind. But they need to figure out what's best for Indian cricket and for Indian players. That's how they would be thinking about it, which is fair enough. Some very good minds would be applying their minds to this idea. If it all comes together, it'd be terrific," he added.

IPL owners open to offer 12-month contracts to best T20 players in the world

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer's comments had caused a stir on social media when he revealed that the franchise CEO - Venky Mysore was also involved in team selection. Several fans and former cricketers had lashed out the KKR team management for allowing the CEO to interfere in cricketing decisions.

After the backlash, Iyer issued a clarification following the conclusion of KKR's next game and said he only meant that the CEO motivated players who were sitting out and didn't find a spot in the playing XI for a particular game. However, former India opener Aakash Chopra believes KKR CEO was indeed involved in team selection.

"When I took the CEO's name, I wanted to say that he's there to console the players who've been sitting out. It's tough for us as well while picking teams," Iyer had said issuing a clarification over his statement on Mysore.

KKR failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2022 after enduring an inconsistent campaign. The team blew hot and cold throughout the season and struggled to find the balance in their playing XI due to injuries and poor form of several players. KKR finished the season with 12 points from 14 matches which were not enough to secure a spot in the top four.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-youve-brought-karthik-in-suresh-raina-questions-veteran-batters-exclusion-from-indias-t20i-squad-481498">'If you've brought Karthik in..':&nbsp;Raina questions veteran batter's exclusion from India's T20I squad</a>

Speaking about Iyer's comments on KKR CEO, Chopra said the skipper might have been asked to change his statement by the team management after intense criticism from all corners.

"Shreyas Iyer once said in a press conference that the KKR CEO is also involved in team selection. I think he got a rap on his knuckles and maybe he was told to change his statement. He then clarified that he had meant that the CEO motivates players when they get dropped and consoles them, but he isn't involved in the team selection," Chopra said&nbsp;in a video on his YouTube channel.

"But I am not sure about that because we saw in one game that he visibly looked upset while talking to Brendon McCullum after getting out against RR," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/can-umran-malik-make-his-india-debut-against-south-africa-former-head-coach-ravi-shastri-gives-his-take-481473">Can Umran Malik make his India debut against South Africa? Former head coach Ravi Shastri gives his take</a>

With Brendon McCullum set to take over as England's new Test coach, he will no longer serve as the head coach of the KKR from next season. KKR&nbsp;are certain to ring in changes in the coaching department ahead of the next season and it remains to be seen who will replace McCullum as the head coach of the side.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer's comments had caused a stir on social media when he revealed that the franchise CEO - Venky Mysore was also involved in team selection.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Shreyas Iyer's comments had caused a stir on social media when he revealed that the franchise CEO - Venky Mysore was also involved in team selection. Several fans and former cricketers had lashed out the KKR team management for allowing the CEO to interfere in cricketing decisions. After the backlash, Iyer issued a clarification following the conclusion of KKR's next game and said he only meant that the CEO motivated players who were sitting out and didn't find a spot in the playing XI for a particular game. However, former India opener Aakash Chopra believes KKR CEO was indeed involved in team selection. "When I took the CEO's name, I wanted to say that he's there to console the players who've been sitting out. It's tough for us as well while picking teams," Iyer had said issuing a clarification over his statement on Mysore. KKR failed to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2022 after enduring an inconsistent campaign. The team blew hot and cold throughout the season and struggled to find the balance in their playing XI due to injuries and poor form of several players. KKR finished the season with 12 points from 14 matches which were not enough to secure a spot in the top four. Also Read: 'If you've brought Karthik in..': Raina questions veteran batter's exclusion from India's T20I squad Speaking about Iyer's comments on KKR CEO, Chopra said the skipper might have been asked to change his statement by the team management after intense criticism from all corners. "Shreyas Iyer once said in a press conference that the KKR CEO is also involved in team selection. I think he got a rap on his knuckles and maybe he was told to change his statement. He then clarified that he had meant that the CEO motivates players when they get dropped and consoles them, but he isn't involved in the team selection," Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel. "But I am not sure about that because we saw in one game that he visibly looked upset while talking to Brendon McCullum after getting out against RR," he added. Also Read: Can Umran Malik make his India debut against South Africa? Former head coach Ravi Shastri gives his take With Brendon McCullum set to take over as England's new Test coach, he will no longer serve as the head coach of the KKR from next season. KKR are certain to ring in changes in the coaching department ahead of the next season and it remains to be seen who will replace McCullum as the head coach of the side.

'Maybe he was told to change his statement': Ex-India opener on Shreyas Iyer's clarification on KKR CEO

The action will continue in IPL 2022 with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the&nbsp;Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Wednesday evening (May 18). While the two-time winners are in a must-win situation, somehow still being alive in the playoffs race, Lucknow will want to end their league stage with a win and confirm their spot in the playoffs. Moreover, they will also be eager to win big to ensure a top-two finish.&nbsp;

Talking about the KKR camp, their campaign was all but over but have managed to breathe for some more time with back-to-back wins and will need to ensure a big victory over Lucknow, against whom they lost the earlier&nbsp;face-off by 75 runs, to make it tougher for Delhi Capitals (DC) and also the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). While one among DC or RCB&nbsp;look set to take the remaining fourth playoffs slot, Kolkata will hope for a top-class performance to close their league stage in style and hope for some poor fortunes for Delhi and Bengaluru.

On the other hand, KL Rahul &amp; Co. will be frustrated to not have confirmed a slot in the playoffs despite being the table-toppers a week back. They are still very much in the next round, however, two successive defeats have hurt them. Thus, they also need a good win to ensure Rajasthan Royals (RR), the other contender to end at the second spot, remains behind them.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-stirred-up-the-aussies-a-lot-shane-watson-lavishes-huge-praise-on-ex-india-pacer-480094">'He stirred up the Aussies a lot' - Shane Watson lavishes huge praise on ex-India pacer</a>

Match prediction for LSG vs KKR clash:&nbsp;With pitches tiring out, both captains will look to bat first. KKR have already won two in a row while defending totals, Lucknow are also been excellent in setting up totals and defending them (although, they are the third-worst chasing side this season). A 155-plus scoring affair on cards with LSG to eliminate KKR.

The action will continue in IPL 2022 with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Wednesday evening (May 18).

The action will continue in IPL 2022 with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Wednesday evening (May 18). While the two-time winners are in a must-win situation, somehow still being alive in the playoffs race, Lucknow will want to end their league stage with a win and confirm their spot in the playoffs. Moreover, they will also be eager to win big to ensure a top-two finish. Talking about the KKR camp, their campaign was all but over but have managed to breathe for some more time with back-to-back wins and will need to ensure a big victory over Lucknow, against whom they lost the earlier face-off by 75 runs, to make it tougher for Delhi Capitals (DC) and also the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). While one among DC or RCB look set to take the remaining fourth playoffs slot, Kolkata will hope for a top-class performance to close their league stage in style and hope for some poor fortunes for Delhi and Bengaluru. On the other hand, KL Rahul & Co. will be frustrated to not have confirmed a slot in the playoffs despite being the table-toppers a week back. They are still very much in the next round, however, two successive defeats have hurt them. Thus, they also need a good win to ensure Rajasthan Royals (RR), the other contender to end at the second spot, remains behind them. ALSO READ | 'He stirred up the Aussies a lot' - Shane Watson lavishes huge praise on ex-India pacer Match prediction for LSG vs KKR clash: With pitches tiring out, both captains will look to bat first. KKR have already won two in a row while defending totals, Lucknow are also been excellent in setting up totals and defending them (although, they are the third-worst chasing side this season). A 155-plus scoring affair on cards with LSG to eliminate KKR.

KKR vs LSG, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants match?

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