As another IPL auction wraps up and new Knights are inducted into the fold, team Kolkata looks set to stake a claim for a third Indian Premier League title. With new players set to drive 2022’s campaign forward and old ones bidding goodbye, My Kolkata couldn’t resist compiling a Kolkata Knight Riders All-Star XI line-up, featuring our favourite Knights from across 14 seasons, in one dream team.
Shubman Gill
Not seeing Gill don the KKR purple this season will be extremely tough, given that the batsman was an indelible part of the team’s line-up for four years. With his consistent performances and an average over 30, he was even named as the Emerging Player for the 2019 IPL. His youthful aggression, blended with maturity far beyond an average 22-year old, makes him a great opening batsman who can both take risks in powerplay and rotate the strike with ease.
Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir has gained naturalised Kolkatan status since guiding the team to both its IPL trophies. His batting stats supplement his track record as captain. He still remains the side’s all-time highest run scorer, despite having exited the team in 2018. Gambhir was one of the most enduring batsmen to have played for KKR – with the ability to protect his prized wicket during sticky situations and bring out the big guns when needed. His temperament would definitely make him an able opening partner with Shubman, besides being the perfect captain.
Sourav Ganguly
Can there ever be a cricket team from Kolkata without Dada? A career so illustrious that no thesis, let alone a paragraph could sum up, there can be no better one-down batsman for KKR than the ‘God of the Offside’ himself. While his run with KKR wasn’t the brightest, his prowess with the bat firmly places him among cricket’s greatest. Moreover, Dada’s mere presence in the pavilion would inspire the lads to give it their all.
Jacques Kallis
Arguably the greatest all-rounder of all time, Kallis had a nine-year journey with the club, first as a player and then a coach. Not only did he guide the team to both their titles as a player, but also helped the side reach the playoffs thrice as head coach. Truly a complete player, Kallis can take wickets and curb boundaries with the ball, Similarly, he can play out the middle overs and floor bowlers through elegant drives with the bat.
Robin Uthappa
Uthappa’s 660 runs in the 2014 season remains one of the most legendary campaigns by a KKR batsman and he deservedly donned the Orange Cap during the season. During his six years with the Men in Purple, Uthappa has batted in every slot and has come through for the team on multiple occasions. His ability to switch gears from calm to aggressive always comes in handy. At the crease, Uthappa oozes flamboyance and it is a delight watching him bat. His agility behind the stumps has led to some awe-inspiring dismissals, and his wicket-keeping could, on the right day, make all the difference.
Andre Russell
No matter how difficult a situation KKR find themselves in, there is a sense of hope when you see this burly West Indian walk out to bat (or take his long run-up). In the past few seasons, Russell has single-handedly muscled the team out of tricky situations multiple times, hitting sixes at will and intimidating bowlers with his presence. His bouncers are equally menacing, catching batsmen off guard due to his tall stature. The 2019 season was particularly memorable, when he was crowned Player of the Tournament after smashing over 500 runs and taking 11 wickets.
Yusuf Pathan
While Pathan’s form with KKR may have been inconsistent at times, he was truly unstoppable when he was in full flow. With a menacing strike rate that can make any chase seem like cakewalk (he once scored 72 of 22 balls!), he provides the middle order with the security to play their natural game. His height also gives an unconventional bounce to his off-spinners, keeping batsmen guessing.
Shakib Al Hasan
The KKR management deserves credit for picking some of the best all-rounders in the tournament. During his title-winning years with the club, he chipped in with several quickfire half-centuries, and always maintained an impressive strike rate despite playing few risky shots. His slow left-arm orthodox bowling makes him a trusted option for the captain when a partnership is proving hard to break. Despite his underwhelming 2021 IPL, his consistency makes him an integral all-star Knight.
Sunil Narine
KKR’s prized mystery spinner and highest wicket-taker, Narine’s journey is as orthodox as his action. The Trinidadian started as an off-spinner, who was impossible to read with 20+ wickets in each of his first three seasons. Over the years, he has also evolved into an aggressive opening batsman with the ability to hit long sixes. He was a key part of both the 2012 and 2014 title clinches, and is still the man to go to when it comes down to the high-pressure final overs.
Varun Chakravarthy
Coming off a stunning 2021 season where he took 18 wickets, the highest of any KKR bowler, Chakravarthy’s leg-spin has become an integral part of the team’s strategy in just two seasons. Given his consistency at taking wickets whilst maintaining a low economy rate, it is no surprise that he was one of the four players retained by the management for 2022. Paired with Narine, Chakravarthy is one-half of KKR’s deadly spin duo, with the skill to dismantle any batting line-up in the league.
Lakshmipathy Balaji
Two qualities of Balaji’s glorious playing years for KKR were his passion and his demeanour. While the former was visible in his run-up, as he would pour every ounce of effort into every delivery, the latter was evident with his omnipresent smile, which would remain intact no matter the situation. The pacer’s zeal and sportsmanship are what would make this team truly world class, besides his lethal reverse swing, of course!
