Top 5 picks of Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL history

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are one of the successful team in IPL history. They are the only team after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians who have lifted the IPL trophy more than once.

Owned by film star Shahrukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, the team has reached the playoffs on six occasions and has lifted the trophy twice (2012, 2014) under Gautam Gambhir's captaincy.

The team also holds the record of a longest winning streak in IPL (9). They have a win percentage of 53.1%, third best among the teams who were part of the IPL from the first season itself.

Kolkata team management has been shrewd at the auction table and has roped in players with credibility.

In this slider, we will have a look at the top 5 picks of KKR over the years.

---

#1 Gautam Gambhir (C)

Gambhir has scored the most runs for KKR

Languishing at the bottom half of the table for the initial three seasons, the KKR team management sought after an astute leader ahead of the 2011 auction.

Gautam Gambhir, who had started his IPL career with his city-based franchise, Delhi Daredevils, was released ahead of the 2011 auctions. KKR bought Gautam Gambhir at $2.4 million, making him the most expensive player at the 2011 IPL auctions. He was assigned to lead the team too, and rest, as they say, is history. He turned Kolkata Knight Riders' fortunes.

Gambhir repaid the owners' faith as KKR qualified for the playoffs for the first time in the IPL history. Gambhir was splendid with the willow too, scoring 378 runs in 15 matches at an average of 34.36.

However, they lost on to Mumbai Indians in the eliminator, and with that, they finished fourth that season.

Next year, Gambhir was rock-solid with the bat and scored runs consistently for the team. Kolkata, for the first time, finished second in the points table after the league phase.

In the qualifiers, they defeated Delhi Daredevils and booked their maiden berth in the IPL finals.

A special inning from Manvinder Bisla and Jacques Kallis saw Kolkata completing the chase of 191 in 19.4 overs in the final against CSK. Gambhir ended the season as the second leading run scorer with 590 runs from 17 innings at a strike rate of 143.55.

Gambhir led the team to their second title in 2014. He was released ahead of the 2018 IPL auctions but by then he had scored 3035 runs in 108 innings, playing for KKR.

#2 Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine was the Man of the tournament in the IPL 2012

Sunil Narine is probably the best buy KKR have ever had in their auction history. He debuted in IPL playing for KKR in 2012, and since then, he has been a crucial piece for the side. He came to spotlight from his first season itself as his mystery spin was too hot to handle for the batsman. He finished the season as a leading wicket-taker, 24 wickets in 15 matches at an economy of 5.47.

His splendid show with the ball fetched him the Man of the Series Award and KKR, their maiden title.

Since then, he has been the highest wicket-taker for KKR, 112 wickets in 97 innings at a decent economy of 6.54.

He displayed his pinch-hitting capabilities in the 2017 edition. He made full use of the early field restrictions and even has the record of fastest IPL fifty to his name, off 12 balls.

#3 Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa has been consistent for the Knight Riders

Robin Uthappa has been a vital cog of the side since his addition in 2014. He began his IPL stint with Mumbai Indians in the inaugural edition from which he was released the following year. He spent two years in his home-based franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore and was later released. He then became part of Pune Warrior India's IPL venture before being a part of Shahrukh Khan's co-owned side in 2014. He was bought for ₹5 crore at the auctions.

Robin Uthappa has been phenomenal in Knight Riders' successful journey in the IPL. He was the orange cap holder in the 2014 IPL season and he played a major role in KKR's victorious campaign that year.

He was retained ahead of the 2018 mega auctions and is retained by KKR, this year as well.

Playing for KKR, the wicket-keeper batsmen have amassed 2157 runs in 72 innings which is phenomenal.

#4 Andre Russell

Russell is a utility player, Kolkata could not let go of

The Carribean all-rounder turned out to be a revelation for KKR over the years. The right-hander is a powerful striker of the ball.

He made his IPL debut with the team Delhi Daredevils in the 2012 season, however, he was released two years later.

Knight Riders, who were looking in to fill the void left after the retirement of all-rounder Jacques Kallis, roped Russell for ₹60 lakhs in the 2014 auction.

Although he did not get many matches in the 2014 season, he established his reputation as one of KKR's valuable player over the next few seasons.

Playing for KKR, Russell has smashed 832 runs in 43 matches at an extravagant strike rate, nearing 180. In addition to this, Russell could attack from the word go, as his strike rate suggests. In the 2018 season alone, he hit 31 sixes.

#5 Manish Pandey

Pandey was the Man of the Match in the 2014 IPL final

Manish Pandey was a part of Mumbai Indian's squad in the inaugural edition. He was released the subsequent year and was picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the next auction.

He hogged into the limelight when he smashed a brilliant ton against Deccan Chargers Hyderabad in the 2009 edition. He was the first Indian to score an IPL ton.

He later moved on to be the part of Pune Warriors India and was roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2014 edition. He was consistent with the bat and scored 401 runs from 16 matches in the 2014 edition.

His innings of prominence, however, came in the finals. The Karnataka batsmen had then scored a valiant 50 balls 94 which had helped Kolkata recover from a bad start and emerge victorious in the final.

Pandey has scored 1270 runs for KKR in 55 matches.