IPL 2018: 4 players KKR regret letting go

Till last year, Kolkata Knight Riders were considered as one of the most formidable outfits of the annual Indian cricketing festival called Indian Premier League (IPL). Under Gautam Gambhir's captaincy, the purple and gold battalion won two titles. However, their completely revamped side received endless criticisms.

KKR started off well enough by defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore at home. Two consecutive losses followed the victory before they managed to bounce back with two consecutive wins. But once again their smooth journey is jolted by the annihilators of Punjab - Chris Gayle and KL Rahul. There are some glaring issues which KKR think tank need to look after, and there are certainly some players KKR regret letting go.

Let us have a look at four such Knights of last year who are doing a great job for their respective franchises in this year's IPL:

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#4 Shakib Al Hasan (Sunrisers Hyderabad)

Shakib Al Hasan in KKR colors

As Sunrisers Hyderabad's mentor VVS Laxman said after the IPL auctions, the Bangladeshi all-rounder is one of the most underrated players of this era. Al Hasan is very economical with the ball, pretty handy with the bat and is exceptional in the field. Yet, he was sold a the auction for just Rs 2 crores. KKR management splurged money on other big names and neglected this tireless worker.

But they are surely regretting their decision now, as he is doing a commendable job for the 'Orange Army'. The 31-year-old from Magura, Jessore has picked up 5 wickets in as many matches for SRH. He has maintained a very impressive economy rate of just over 7 runs per over. With the bat, he has scored 63 runs at an average of over 30 and a strike rate of 140.

#3 Umesh Yadav (Royal Challengers Bangalore)

Umesh Yadav in action during the match against KXIP

This mention might surprise everyone, but Umesh Yadav would have been a great addition to this year's KKR squad. Umesh took 8 wickets for RCB this year and conceded runs at an economy rate of over 8 runs per over. Though his economy rate is a bit on the higher side, Umesh could have solved KKR's pace issues.

KKR have only 3 Indian pacers in their ammunition. Amongst the three, Prasidh Krishna is not yet tested in the IPL, and Vinay Kumar has made a name for himself amongst the locals as KKR's villain after bowling just 4 overs. In such a scenario, KKR's skipper Dinesh Karthik has got no option other than trusting the U-19 quick Shivam Mavi. Mavi has shown a lot of promise, but he is not yet ready to be an IPL team's prime Indian pace asset. He has picked up just a couple of wickets in 4 games and his economy rate is over 9 runs per over. Hence, it will be safe to say that KKR are missing Yadav.

#2 Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians)

Suryakumar Yadav - KKR's ex-vice captain

Suryakumar Yadav grabbed the limelight in 2014 when he amassed 164 runs at an impressive average of over 30. But consistency has always been an issue with this Mumbai lad. KKR management and their erstwhile skipper Gautam Gambhir had immense faith in him and made him the vice-captain, but Yadav failed to play a significant role.

As a result, KKR management decided not to show any interest in him, and Yadav was signed by his local team Mumbai Indians for just Rs 3.2 crores. Yadav is showing consistency in his stint with the defending champions, as he has scored 124 runs already in just 4 games. His average is 31 and strike rate is over 130.

#1 Trent Boult (Delhi Daredevils)

Trent Boult during his SRH days

KKR bought the Kiwi pacer last year with a lot of hope, but Boult failed to deliver. He played just 6 matches for KKR and took 5 wickets by conceding runs at an economy rate of over 9 runs per over. He was dropped because of his poor string of performances and Nathan Coulter-Nile did a phenomenal job in his place.

Boult, however, has reunited with his ex-KKR skipper Gautam Gambhir at Delhi Daredevils. Gambhir rates Boult very highly, and this time he is repaying the skipper's faith in him. Boult has picked up 7 wickets in 5 games and his economy rate is 8.54 runs per over. On the contrary, KKR have problems aplenty with their foreign pacers. Though their first choice pacer Tom Curran has picked up 5 wickets in 4 games, his economy rate is just under 12 runs per over. They have veteran Mitchell Johnson on their team, who has picked up just a couple of wickets in as many games.