Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has expressed concerns over the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) batting lineup for the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2023. Chopra believes that the team will miss the presence of Shreyas Iyer, who is likely to miss the initial phase of the tournament due to his back injury. Nitish Rana has been named as the interim captain in his absence. However, Chopra believes that Iyer’s absence will weaken the KKR’s batting order as he is the backbone of the team.
Chopra pointed out that KKR has very few Indian batters in their squad, and without Iyer, the team’s middle order will struggle. He said, “If he has some back issues, the entire team’s backbone will become weak”. He also emphasized that Iyer’s importance is not just as a captain but also as a batter.
Iyer was bought by KKR for INR 12.5 crore in the 2022 IPL auction and was appointed as their skipper. He became the highest run-scorer for the team in the season, scoring 401 runs in 14 games. However, he was not retained by Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2023 IPL.
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Chopra also expressed his concerns over Andre Russell’s recent form and said that it could hurt the franchise. He noted that while KKR has plenty of options for all-rounders, they cannot rely on Shardul Thakur as a batter.
The Nitish Rana-led team will begin their campaign in the IPL 2023 against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Punjab Cricket Association’s IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, on April 1.
In conclusion, Chopra believes that KKR’s batting order will be significantly weakened without Iyer and has expressed concerns over Russell’s recent form. However, the team has several talented all-rounders, including Shakib Al Hasan and David Wiese, who can make an impact in the tournament. It remains to be seen how KKR will perform in the upcoming season without Iyer in the lineup.