IPL: KKR all-time greatest XI in league history

Apart from Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is the only other franchise in the Indian Premier League history to win the IPL title more than once. The KKR franchise, which is co-owned by Bollywood celebrities Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla have won the title in 2012 and 2014.

In fact, KKR had played the first-ever match in the IPL history against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 18, 2008, which saw Brendon McCullum setting the tone with an audacious 158*. Since then, there have been many legends that have played for the franchise over the course of 16 years. Multiple players have had more than one stint with the KKR team, while some left their mark even in a single appearance. With this in mind, here we present the all-time greatest KKR XI in IPL history.

Here’s the KKR all-time greatest XI in league history:

1. Gautam Gambhir (C)

Gautam Gambhir. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Gautam Gambhir turned around the fortunes of the Kolkata Knight Riders after the John Buchanan fiasco in IPL 2009 and 2010. To bring Gambhir into the side, KKR took the bold move of releasing Prince of Kolkata Sourav Ganguly ahead of the IPL 2011 auction and bought the former Delhi Capitals captain for $2,400,000.

Gambhir then went to work and bought Sunil Narine and Andre Russell into the KKR side and the franchise went on to win the IPL titles in 2012 and 2014. Gambhir contributed 3345 runs in 122 matches for KKR with 30 fifties to his name and a best of 93. His strike rate was 124.72 and he averaged 31.26.

Also check: KKR Team 2024 Player List

2. Chris Lynn

Chris Lynn. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Chris Lynn ruled the KKR opening scene from 2014-2019. He formed a dangerous opening pair with Sunil Narine and Lynn’s big hitting helped KKR gain a huge fan base. Chris Lynn played 40 games for the franchise amidst injury issues and scored 1274 runs at a strike rate of 141.39 and best of 93*. He hit 63 sixes and 127 fours in his tenure. KKR won the IPL for the second time during Chris Lynn’s debut year in 2014.

3. Robin Uthappa (WK)

Robin Uthappa. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Robin Uthappa had the most success with Kolkata Knight Riders amidst all the franchises he played during his amazing career in the IPL. Uthappa played various roles like opener, fielder and keeper and was the vice-captain of the team as well. He played 91 matches from 2014-2019 for the team with varied success.

Uthappa made 2649 runs for KKR with 17 fifties and best score of 87 at a strike rate of 135.84 and average of 31.53. He hit 88 sixes and 283 fours in his career for Kolkata Knight Riders. His experience brought a lot of cushion for KKR who were transitioning and saw some new players coming into the side.

Also check: IPL 2024 SWOT Analysis of Kolkata Knight Riders

4. Manish Pandey

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings IPL 2014. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Manish Pandey joined the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2014 IPL after a successful stint with teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors. He went on to be KKR’s mainstay in the middle order. Pandey’s amazing 94 in the IPL 2014 final thumped a century by Punjab’s Wriddhiman Saha and helped KKR clinch its second IPL title.

Overall, in 60 matches, Pandey scored 1442 runs for KKR with the best score of 94 and hit seven fifties for them. He averaged 32.77 and his strike rate was 126.82. His performance for KKR also led to Manish Pandey debuting for India in 2016. After spending time in Sunrisers Hyderabad and other franchises, Pandey will don the KKR colours again in IPL 2024.

5. Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik. (Photo Source ; Twitter)

Dinesh Karthik joined the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise amidst much fanfare in IPL 2018 as he took over captaincy from Gautam Gambhir. Karthik captained the side to the playoffs that season, and the KKR side saw some good success under his leadership. He played three seasons for KKR from 2018-2021.

In these three seasons, Karthik played 61 games scoring 1143 runs with a best of 97*. Karthik’s average was 28.57 and the strike rate was 140.41 as he played the role of a finisher for KKR. He stepped down as captain in the middle of the IPL 2021 tournament, in which KKR reached the final of the tournament after Eoin Morgan took over.

6. Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan KKR Kit (Photo Source ; Twitter)

Yusuf Pathan was one of the players the Kolkata Knight Riders went for in the IPL 2011 mega auction. For KKR, that season was like a reboot of the franchise with stars like Brett Lee and Gautam Gambhir coming into the side. Pathan had already been a huge part of the IPL 2008-winning Rajasthan Royals side and he got a defined role of playing the finishing role and bowl a few overs here and there.

He did well in his role, winning the IPL in 2012 and 2014 with KKR. He played 122 games for KKR and made 2061 runs at a strike rate of 135.94 and a highest score of 72. He hit 93 sixes and 158 fours during his tenure. He also took 30 wickets with his off-spin with a best of 3/20.

7. Andre Russell

Andre Russell. (Photo source: BCCI/IPL)

Andre Russell joined the KKR franchise in 2014 and till now, has been a huge part of the team’s success. He has played 111 matches for KKR so far and scored 2269 runs with a strike rate of 175.07 and average of 29.46. He has hit 151 fours and an astonishing 195 sixes so far in his career in IPL.

One of the best outings for Russell came in 2019, when despite being a finisher he made 510 runs with a strike rate of 204.81 and he hit 52 sixes and 31 fours in the season. With the ball, Russell has taken 97 wickets for KKR with a best of 5/15 and an economy of 9.10.

8. Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine (Photo Source : Twitter)

Sunil Narine has been the go-to guy for every KKR captain when it comes to taking wickets. Narine and the franchise have such a good relationship, that when the bowler was on hiatus after being banned for his action and worked on remodelling it, KKR retained the spinner knowing he won’t play for the team.

And Narine has played his heart out for the franchise, taking 181 wickets in 171 matches with a best of 5/19. His economy has been 6.65 and he has 8 four-wicket hauls to his name. KKR also utilised his batting to good effect, as he once hit a 15-ball fifty. He has 1047 runs with four fifties and a strike rate of 159.11 and even opened the innings for an entire IPL season, with Chris Lynn.

Also check: IPL 2024: Strongest Playing XI for Kolkata Knight Riders

9. Brett Lee

Brett lee. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Though Brett Lee played only three seasons for Kolkata Knight Riders, that too towards the end of his cricketing career, he left a huge mark. Carrying the KKR attack, Brett Lee played 34 matches and picked 24 wickets at an economy of 7.43 and best bowling of 2/26. Though the wicket column might be a bit less, this was Brett Lee after a couple of surgeries on his ankle and shin. And yet he managed to bowl that one delivery to Unmukt Chand which had his off-stump cartwheeling on the first ball of IPL 2012. That ball is part of all IPL highlight reels.

10. Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Kuldeep Yadav got his chance to shine in the Indian Premier League with the KKR franchise. He joined the side in 2014 and was with them till IPL 2020. He played 50 matches for KKR and picked 46 wickets with the best of 4/20. His economy was 8.18. However, his departure from the franchise was heartbreaking as he suffered a loss of form and confidence and an injury as well.

11. Umesh Yadav

Umesh Yadav against PBKS. (Photo Source: IPL/ BCCI)

Umesh Yadav played for KKR in two stints, first joining the franchise in 2014 and then in 2022. In all, Yadav played 68 games for KKR and picked 65 wickets. His best bowling was 4/23 and economy was 8.44. Umesh Yadav formed a good opening bowling partnership with the likes of Pat Cummins, Morne Morkel, Jacques Kallis and Vinay Kumar.

Also check: IPL 2024 KKR Retained and Released Players List