10 Players you might not know played for Kolkata Knight Riders

3. Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson

Sanju Samson was part of the KKR team before moving to Rajasthan Royals. He spent a single season with KKR and didn’t even get a chance to play. Unsurprisingly, he was released from his contract the following year and went on to play for Rajasthan Royals.

This is where his talent was recognized immediately and he was soon part of the playing XI. He also became the youngest player to score a half-century in the history of the IPL. He has since become one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in the league. His best season came in 2018 when he scored 441 runs in 15 matches.

KKR are probably wondering how they failed to recognize his talent.

2. Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting

We all know Ricky Ponting as one of the greatest cricketers to ever play the game, but this legendary player just couldn’t get his IPL career off to a good start. In 2008, Ponting was part of the KKR dugout. He only played four games and scored a measly 39 runs. He was soon dropped from the playing XI and was released from his contract.

He went unsold in the IPL auctions between 2009 - 2012 before he was finally purchased by Mumbai Indians in 2013. He was named their skipper, but this didn’t help his poor batting form. He scored 52 runs in six games. Ponting’s poor performances saw his team sit at the bottom of the points table. He decided to relinquish his captaincy to Rohit Sharma mid-season and was dropped from the team. This decision proved a crucial factor in helping MI to their first IPL title.

Punter spent a couple more years with MI as a coach. Currently, he is the coach of the Delhi Capitals team.

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