T20 CRICKET

“KKR tend to go overboard,” Sanjay Manjrekar decodes KKR’s auction tactics

By Akshita Patel

Posted on Thursday, 22 December 2022, 1:20 AM IST

IPL 2023 auction will go underway on 23rd December 2022. Meanwhile, KKR has spent big bucks on retention and has a low purse amount.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a disappointing outing in the previous season of the IPL. They finished 7th on the table. However, this year around, they retained a majority of their players and also traded a few players in the trade window. In the process, KKR spent a little more than required and is left with just over 7 crores of purse amount. Hence, they will have to be a little cautious on the auction table.

Ahead of the mini-auction, former Indian cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar decoded KKR’s auction strategies over the past few years. He claimed that KKR goes over budget when it comes to acquiring young players. But the problem arises when they do let the youngsters have enough game time.

“I feel it is a gamble,” Manjrekar on KKR acquiring Shardul and Ferguson

Sanjay Manjrekar spoke to Star Sports that KKR has a tendency to go overboard while acquiring players. He used the example of Shivam Mavi, who received 7 crores last year but was released this year.

“I don’t think KKR’s auction performance has been the best in IPL history like it used to be for the Mumbai Indians or CSK. You can ignore the last performance. When KKR spent seven crores for Shivam Mavi and then released him, you come to know that they tend to go slightly overboard,”

Manjrekar further added that KKR has played a gamble by spending big bucks for Shardul Thakur and Lockie Ferguson. They traded Thakur, Ferguson, and Gurbaz in the trade window and it cost them over 20 crores.

“Shardul Thakur is a tried-and-tested player. His last season was not that special and his Indian season was also not that great, but he can be quite dangerous in the all-rounder’s role. He bowls in the death overs. He is hit-and-miss but I can understand why they put a big price on him. Lockie Ferguson was there with them but after that played for a different franchise, there I feel it is a gamble,”