Regarding the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) problems don’t seem to be going away soon. The two-time champions won’t have their captain, Shreyas Iyer, for most of the event, and their leading death bowler, Lockie Ferguson, won’t be there for the first few matches. Senior all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has dropped out of the event because of personal and international commitments. KKR bought back Shakib at the player auction for INR 1.5 crore, but he didn’t show up on time because of the Test series, so both sides agreed to part ways.
Two things were clear when KKR played Punjab Kings and lost their first game. There needed to be a reliable top-order hitter or a bowler who could get wickets. Ferguson’s fitness could be more precise, and Tim Southee didn’t look like the player he is in ODIs and Tests, in particular. Shakib’s absence could be a gift in disguise for the Knight Riders since they can now choose to replace the Bangladesh all-rounder with a death-overs specialist or a genuine all-rounder who can give the team some balance and strength.
1- Riley Meredith:
Riley Meredith is a fast bowler from Australia who is a right-arm bowler. He had played for several teams in the IPL before but only got a few chances to show off his skills. Meredith has always done well for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL). He can get the ball moving quickly and is known for his yorker at the end, which could help the Knight Riders.
2- Dasun Shanaka:
Dasun Shanaka is the captain of Sri Lanka. He is not a straight-death bowler, but fans have often asked him to play in the IPL because he has destroyed Indian bowlers in T20Is. Shanaka can not only fill in for Andre Russell, but he can also make the KKR system stronger. Shanaka has also been bowling at the end of games, and in the first T20I against New Zealand, he bowled the last over.
3- Lance Morris:
Lance Morris is one of the most talented and up-and-coming Australian bowlers. Morris has been around the Australian team and was in the group that went to India, but he has yet to be able to play. Morris is known to hit 150 km/h regularly. He could add a new dimension to the KKR attack, which currently lacks bite and penetration.
