The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) could add the young Bengal batter Sudip Kumar Gharami to their squad for IPL 2023 following the news that their skipper Shreyas Iyer requires surgery on his back. Gharami, 23, has already established a strong presence in domestic cricket, featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy while also performing admirably in the recently-concluded Ranji Trophy final. His statistics in the T20 format are still improving, with an average of 24.80 and a strike rate of 115.88 after five innings.
Nonetheless, his recent performances in the longer formats of the game could be a great addition to the KKR side, who kicked off their IPL 2023 campaign with a narrow defeat against the Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Let’s look at 3 reasons why Gharami can be the right replacement for Iyer:
1) Will add local flavor to the squad
KKR has not had a Bengal player in their squad for the past few seasons. This is strange considering how successful Bengal has been on the domestic circuit lately, and Gharami could be the one to break this trend if he joins the two-time IPL champions. It is wise for KKR to make this move since they most frequently play at Eden Gardens. Gharami will know the conditions at this stadium well, giving the team an advantage. Interestingly enough, the Knight Riders’ roster for IPL 2023 does not appear suitable for playing at Eden Gardens. Gharami’s signing could thus provide the team with invaluable insights and welcome a player who can best use these conditions.
2) KKR can groom him for the long run
Time will eventually tell if Gharami will become a part of KKR’s playing XI as a replacement for Shreyas. Offering a talented youngster like him the chance to learn from some of the world’s best players is an opportunity worth taking. Doing so will enable head coach Chandrakant Pandit to train and mentor him to let him reach his full potential sooner rather than later. Gharami’s impressive domestic cricket record suggests he is a star in the making; hence, KKR should include him in the squad for IPL 2023.
3) Will bring the factor of being unknown
Data and analytics are an integral part of today’s T20 cricket. Teams use a vast amount of data to plan and strategize against opponents. However, this may not be the case regarding lesser-known players such as Gharami. His lack of exposure means that the opposition cannot properly assess or prepare for him, allowing KKR to surprise their opponents by replacing Shreyas with Gharami in IPL 2023. It remains to be seen if this move will deliver the desired results, but it is worth trying to bounce back in the tournament.
