The Kolkata Knight Riders and their campaign of the IPL were like a roller coaster. They were on an all-time low in the first two seasons. Gautam Gambhir was then drafted into the driver’s seat. Since then, the story of this franchise changed forever. Gautam took the franchise to two title victories. So, what does this team have in store for the upcoming season of IPL 2022? What is the likely combination for them? Here is a look:
Kolkata Knight Riders Squad for IPL 2022:
| Player Name | Position | Player Name | Position |
| Venkatesh Iyer | All-Rounder | Baba Indrajith | All-Rounder |
| Andre Russell | All-Rounder | Chamika Karunaratne | All-Rounder |
| Nitish Rana | Batter | Abhijeet Tomar | All-Rounder |
| Pat Cummins | Fast Bowler | Pratham Singh | Bowler |
| Sunil Narine | All-Rounder | Ashok Sharma | All-Rounder |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Spinner | Sam Billings | Batter/Keeper |
| Shreyas Iyer | Batter | Aaron Finch | Batter |
| Shivam Mavi | Bowler | Tim Southee | Bowler |
| Sheldon Jackson | Batter | Mohammad Nabi | All-Rounder |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Batter | Ramesh Kumar | Batter |
| Rinku Singh | Batter | Umesh Yadav | Fast Bowler |
| Anukul Roy | Spinner | Aman Khan | Batter |
| Rasikh Dar | Fast Bowler |
Expected Playing XI:
Venkatesh Iyer, Sam Billings (WK) /Aaron Finch, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Pat Cummins, Varun Chakravarthy, Umesh Yadav, Sunil Narine, Shivam Mavi.
Strengths of the Kolkata Knight Riders:
The strength of the KKR team lies in their spin bowling and their Indian batting core. Their spin bowling has two of the best mystery spinners in the world. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy will have a lot relying on their shoulders. Mohammad Nabi also has a lot to offer. With Anukul Roy in the mix and one or two overs from Nitish Rana, the spin department is sorted. Their Indian batting core includes Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, and Sheldon Jackson are some of the top prospects.
Weakness of the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2022:
The weakness is the backup of Andre Russell. Dre Russ has a fragile body and injuries can impact his campaign. Andre doesn’t have a replacement. The skillset that he brings is unmatched. Their bowling also doesn’t look very formidable. Previously they had Prasidh Krishna but now they have to settle for Shivam Mavi.
Opportunities for the KKR team in IPL 2022:
The opportunities are for many players. If Ajinkya Rahane gets a position, he can show that he has a lot of fire left in the white-ball format. Nitish Rana can also make a case for himself in the Indian middle-order. What works for Rana is that he is left-handed! With Hardik Pandya back and fit, Venkatesh Iyer will have to have a great IPL to hold his position in the national team. Sheldon Jackson can also get a chance if KKR wants an Indian keeper. He has been dominating the domestic circuit.
Threats for the KKR team:
The threats include Andre Russell’s fitness, Varun Chakravarthy’s fitness, and Sunil Narine’s form. The wicket-keeping position is also skeptical. Sheldon Jackson or Sam Billings will have to step up and take responsibility. Venkatesh Iyer needs to prove that he is much more than just a one-season wonder.
X-Factor Players:
Venkatesh Iyer has come a very long way in the past year. From filling interview forms in Bhopal to playing for the Indian national team, Venky has pulled his weight. Shreyas Iyer’s recent performances with the bat speak volumes of his skill. Iyer will be leading the team and will be keen to lead by example.
KKR IPL 2022 Schedule:
| Date | Match Number | Match Details | Venue | Time |
| Mar-26 | 1 | Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| Mar-30 | 6 | Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Dr. DY Patil Sports Stadium, Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| Apr-01 | 8 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| Apr-06 | 14 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| Apr-10 | 19 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | 3:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| Apr-15 | 25 | Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| Apr-18 | 30 | Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| Apr-23 | 35 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans | Dr. DY Patil Sports Stadium, Navi Mumbai | 3:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| Apr-28 | 41 | Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| May-02 | 47 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| May-07 | 53 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| May-09 | 56 | Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Dr. DY Patil Sports Stadium, Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| May-14 | 61 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
| May-18 | 66 | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants | Dr. DY Patil Sports Stadium, Navi Mumbai | 7:30 PM INDIAN STANDARD TIME |
To know more go to the official website of the Kolkata Knight Riders.
To know more go to the official website of the IPL.