IPL 2018: 5 Key Indian Players for the Kolkata Knight Riders

IPL 2018 is upon us. Its that time of the year again when there is excitement and anticipation in the air. All the eight teams have started their preparations for the mega event and this season promises to be a crackerjack.

In the previous 10 seasons of the IPL, Indian players have played a pivotal role for their respective franchises.

Even though the foreign players are the center of attraction and usually attract higher bids, it is the local Indian players who make a difference between a good campaign and an excellent campaign.

Kolkata Knight riders are one of the most consistent teams in the IPL and they usually invest in local Indian talent.

They have done some good business in the player auction and have a quality squad at their disposal.

Here, we look at five Indian players who will play a key role for the Kolkata Knight Riders this season and from whom, the team management and the fans will have high expectations:

---

#5 Kamlesh Nagarkoti

Kolkata Knight Riders have invested heavily in young Indian talent going into IPL 2018. This is a testimony to the long-term planning by the KKR management.

The KKR squad comprises of many young uncapped Indian players who have tremendous potential.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti is the next big thing in Indian cricket. The speedster has impressed one and all through his consistency and his ability to generate pace of the wicket.

He is an excellent athlete as well and is a live wire on the field.

Though he has tremendous potential, he has not yet played in front of huge crowds and against world class batsmen.

Nevertheless, he will be a key member of the KKR bowling unit. He would have the opportunity to learn from the likes of Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson and it would be a big learning curve for the youngster to share the same dressing room with some of the legends of the game.

Nagarkoti has played eight List A games in which he has picked up nine wickets with an impressive economy rate of 4.95.

#4 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav has evolved into a deadly bowler over the last year

Kuldeep Yadav has become permanent in India's limited overs squad on the back of some stellar performances.

He has evolved as a bowler ever since making his debut for India. Yadav has got a lot fitter and has increased his pace just a little bit.

He will play for the Kolkata Knight Riders again in IPL 2018, and will probably lead their spin bowling attack since there is uncertainty regarding Sunil Narine's participation in the mega event.

Yadav will be a key player for the Knight Riders with all his variations. He is an out and out wicket-taker and the captain would look up to him whenever he is looking to break a partnership or to stem the flow of runs.

Overall, he has played 15 matches in his IPL career, picking up 18 wickets in the process with an average of 24.44 and an economy of 8.30 runs per over.

#3 Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik has rejuvenated his career

Dinesh Karthik will lead the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2018 and he will have an added responsibility.

KKR fans would hope that he brings back glory to the franchise. He has been around for a long time now and has played for a number of teams in the IPL over the past seasons.

Karthik has rejuvenated his career and has developed his power game.

He was more of an accumulator in initial stages of his career but he has polished his ability to finish games with the bat. He is now a valuable asset in limited overs cricket.

The right-hander will be a key member of the KKR squad in IPL 2018 with all his experience and batting prowess.

He has been in good form lately and he would hope to continue the same form in the IPL as well.

Karthik has played 152 IPL matches so far and has scored 2903 runs in total at an impressive average of 24.81 and a strike rate of 125.94. He has scored 14 half centuries in the process.

#2 Robin Uthappa

Uthappa will hope to fire in the IPL

Just like Karthik, Robin Uthappa has been around for a long time now and has played for a number of franchises.

His best performances, though, have come in KKR colors. He along with Gautam Gambhir formed a lethal pair at the top of KKR batting order.

He will again play for KKR in IPL 2018 and it would be interesting to see where he bats in the batting order.

Uthappa is a versatile player who can bat in the top order and get the team off to great starts. He can also play the role of a dynamic finisher and end the innings on a high.

His game is best defined by ease and grace and his stokes are pleasing to the eye. He has the natural gift of timing and he specializes in finding gaps in the field.

Uthappa has 3735 runs to his name in 149 IPL matches so far. He strikes the ball at an impressive rate of 131.79 and averages 29.40 in the tournament. Uthappa also has 22 half centuries to his name.

#1 Nitish Rana

KKR fans will have high expectations from Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana was one of the brightest talents in IPL 2017 for the Mumbai Indians. His swashbuckling and fearless approach brought him to prominence and he played some crucial innings for the Mumbai Indians under high-pressure situations.

The Mumbai Indians, however, decided not to retain him for IPL 2018 season and this gave KKR the opportunity to cash in for the highly talented left-hander.

Despite signing some big names in the player auctions, the KKR middle order seems to be lacking top-level experience on paper.

Hence, Rana will be a key player in the middle order for KKR and they will hope for some fireworks from him. He will provide the much-needed X-factor in the middle order for KKR.

Rana already has four half-centuries to his name in his short IPL career. He has played 17 matches so far in which he has scored 437 runs at an average of 31.21 and a strike rate of 128.90.