The Indian Premier League (IPL) Player Auction is approaching and former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has shared his thoughts on which players the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings will be targeting.
According to Uthappa, who is part of JioCinema's IPL Player Auction Expert Panel, KKR will be looking for three players in the auction. First, they will seek an Indian backup wicketkeeper for Gurbaz. This is because Gurbaz may need to sit out in order to allow Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson to play, as Sunil Narine and Andre Russell are unlikely to be dropped. Second, KKR will be searching for a backup for Andre Russell, due to the demands of the IPL schedule and the team's frequent travel. Finally, the Knight Riders will look for an Indian fast bowler to serve as a backup for Shardul Thakur and Umesh Yadav. Uthappa mentioned Jaydev Unadkat as a potential target for this role.
As for the Chennai Super Kings, Uthappa believes they will focus on acquiring an all-rounder to replace Dwayne Bravo and a solid Indian middle-order batter to serve as a backup for their current players. Uthappa specifically mentioned Sam Curran and Manish Pandey as potential targets for the Super Kings. However, he noted that the team will likely have backup options in case they are unable to secure their preferred players.
Overall, it will be interesting to see which players the Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings ultimately add to their rosters during the IPL Player Auction. With experienced and talented players like Uthappa's suggested targets available, both teams will have a chance to strengthen their squads and make a strong push for success in the upcoming season.