Kolkata Knight Riders will be looking to go one better this season and win the title for the third time. They have assembled a good squad. Let’s look at the hot and cold picks for your fantasy XI from the squad of Kolkata.
Untamed: This category is for players who are guaranteed to give some valuable points to your squad, in 9 out of 10 days. They are the strongest representatives of the team.
Shreyas Iyer: Shreyas Iyer is coming into the tournament being unbeaten in the series against Sri Lanka. He scored 204 runs in the series from 3 matches at a strike rate over 150. His average fantasy point per game in the IPL is 32.82, but this year you can expect even bigger returns from the man. Pick the KKR skipper and make him your Captain, for both small and big leagues. Mostly, you will be happy with this selection.
Shilly Shally: If you are a risk-taker or if you want to make it big in the grand leagues, these are your players.
Andre Russell: Andre Russell has an average of 41.78 fantasy points per game. But the average does not speak of the fact that very big performances in some matches have skewed the statistics. If you select him as the captain of the team, he will give you way more than you expect the day he clicks. But those would be rare occurrences. Although against Chennai he scores at a strike rate of 169. Pick him in the team for the first match and make him the captain if you want to win a grand league. Who knows the opening day might be the Russell show.
Sunil Narine: One more man who could be a hit or a miss. His average fantasy point per game is 39.48, but in this case, also some brilliant performances especially at the beginning of his IPL career have skewed the numbers. His economical bowling though would give you average returns most days, but depending on his batting would be a risk.
Varun Chakravarthy: He is the mystery factor in the KKR bowling lineup. But as time is passing batters are playing him out carefully and thus, he ends up with 1 or 2 wickets in a game. He returns an average of 16.42 fantasy points per game, so most fantasy players will ignore the man. If you are going with multiple teams in the grand league, make him the captain in one or two of them, there will be days when he will change the course of a match with a brilliant spell.
Unhailed: Players will give you consistent returns taking up fewer credit points.
Ajinkya Rahane: Rahane is a man who will go about doing his job very silently. Many would ignore him given the fact that he has recently been dropped from the national squad. But with an average return of 27.49, he is a must if you are a safe and small league player. On most of the days, he will give you some valuable points if he is in your team.
Venkatesh Iyer: Venkatesh Iyer was one of the most important reasons for Kolkata’s turnaround in the second phase of the last season. In his short IPL career, he has scored runs at an average of 41. So, he is going to be one consistent point fetcher for you eating up relatively fewer credit points.
Nitish Rana: Rana is a quality middle-order batsman, who gets a start most of the days. Nitish Rana on average gives 35 fantasy points per game. For small league players, he is a must-pick.
Stealthy Warriors: They could be the x-factors in your team as they are still unexplored in the IPL.
Shivam Mavi: Shivam Mavi has been unlucky if his IPL career is considered. The potential in this young man is great according to the critics. He has the reputation of clocking 135 plus km/h on average. So, Mavi might be a player who you can take a risk with and see how much return he gives you.
Sam Billings: He has one memorable performance in the IPL for CSK against KKR. He won the match for CSK single-handedly. After that he has not got many chances, so many might ignore this young English wicket-keeper. But with a definite potential of being a match-winner, he will be a good pick for grand league players.
Imposters: Players who will take you down the points table on most days.
Umesh Yadav: Umesh Yadav will be bowling the hard overs for KKR this year in the death. With a general economy rate of 8.51, he will be taking the hit in most of the matches. If you don’t want to lose precious points earned by other members of your team, ignore the Indian pacer.
Tim Southee: In IPL Southee has played 44 matches and has picked up 31 wickets in them at a high average of 44. Most days he will return wicket less not giving you much returns. Try and avoid him in most of the matches.
Hot Picks: Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana.
Risky Options: Andre Russell, Sunil Narine.
Stay Away From: Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee.