IPL 2020: 3 overseas players Kolkata Knight Riders could target at the auction

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have had mixed fortunes in the history of the IPL. After failing to get past the group stage in the first three editions, KKR managed to finish fourth in the 2011 season. 2012 then saw them winning their maiden title, and they repeated the feat in the year 2014.

Post 2014 the team made it to the playoffs in the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, but they couldn't make it to the finals. The year 2019 was not a very successful one for the KKR outfit as they ended in fifth position on the points table.

The team management will look to get in some new faces for the 2020 season and the Dinesh Karthik-led side look to clinch their third IPL trophy. On that note, here is a look at three players KKR may look to target in the 2020 auction:

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#1 Chris Woakes

Chris Woakes

English all-rounder Chris Woakes played for KKR in the 2017 season of the IPL and tasted plenty of success. In 13 games, he picked up 17 wickets at an impressive average of 22.70.

Woakes was a hot property in the 2018 IPL auction and was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping sum of Rs. 7. 4 crore. But Woakes played just 5 games in 2018, picking up 8 wickets.

Woakes averages 23.04 in his IPL career, which is good enough for KKR to consider getting him back. Woakes is a handy batsman lower down the order too, and a safe fielder.

KKR might look to release Carlos Brathwaite, who played just 2 games in the 2019 season. Woakes can be a perfect replacement as an all-rounder, and having played for KKR before will help his cause.

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#2 Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn

KKR lacked a pacer with international experience to guide the young Indian fast bowlers in the 2019 season of the IPL. Dale Steyn can be a perfect candidate to take up that role.

Steyn has considerable experience of playing in India, and especially in the IPL. In 92 games, the pacer has bagged 96 wickets at an impressive average of 24.74 and an economy of 6.77.

The 36-year-old retired from Test cricket in August 2019, and is looking to extend his career in limited overs cricket.

Harry Gurney did not taste much success in the last edition of the IPL, and a bowler of the caliber and experience of Steyn will certainly strengthen the KKR outfit. Steyn still has the pace that made him such a feared bowler across formats, and that helps him get wickets with both the new ball and the old ball.

#3 Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan

England's World Cup winner Eoin Morgan might be on KKR's radar for the 2020 season. Morgan, who was unsold in the 2019 auction, is likely to be a hot commodity in the upcoming one.

The English ODI skipper is a busy batsman in the middle order and has the ability to score runs at a quick pace. He can play the big shots with ease, which was evidenced in the 2019 World Cup.

During IPL 2019 KKR lacked a player in the middle order who could play the role of a finisher, and Morgan would fit the ball perfectly in that regard. Also, Morgan with his captaincy experience can provide inputs to Dinesh Karthik, who has looked short of ideas at times.

Morgan is no stranger to the KKR team, having played for them from 2011 to 2014. He will certainly be on the radar of many teams in the upcoming auction, and KKR would do well to fight off the competition and get his signature for the 2020 season.