Kolkata Knight Riders. (Photo Source: BCCI)
Ahead of 2012, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were the most underperforming side in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the initial three editions of the cash-rich league, the side failed to qualify for the knockouts under Sourav Ganguly. In 2011, all teams went through a reshuffle and the Kolkata-based outlet snapped up Gautam Gambhir for a massive amount of INR 11.04 crore.
Under the new skipper, KKR looked decent in the fourth IPL edition and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 2011. In the fifth season, Knight Riders played an aggressive brand of cricket and succeeded in clinching their maiden trophy. It’s been almost 12 years of KKR’s maiden title win and ardent Kolkata supporters will be keen to know what their champion players are doing nowadays.
Read below to know what the 2012 KKR champions are doing currently
20. Jaydev Unadkat
Jaydev Unadkat. (Photo Source: Twitter/Sussex Cricket)
Jaydev Unadkat was a part of KKR’s playing XI against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Eden Gardens but his indisciplined bowling forced skipper Gambhir to drop him from playing XI for the remainder of the competition. Bowling a three-over spell against Punjab, he splurged 32 runs at an economy of 10.66.
Unadkat is currently the skipper of Saurashtra and under his leadership, his domestic side won the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy in the 2022- 23 season. Talking about his duty in IPL, he will be seen in the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) camp in the upcoming edition.
19. Merchant de Lange
Merchant-de-Lange. (Photo Source: Twitter)
South Africa speedster Merchant de Lange was included in KKR’s playing XI for three games but he failed to be impactful. Following his miserable bowling show, KKR parted ways with him before the 2013 IPL auction in Chennai. The Protea bowler is still active in the sport as he serves Gloucestershire in the county championship.
18. Iqbal Abdulla
Iqbal Abdulla. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Iqbal Abdulla’s role was to assist Sunil Narine in reinforcing the spin department of the side. The left-arm spinner played nine games and took four wickets at an economy of 6.54. He played his last IPL season in 2017 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). In October 2023, he retired from the game after serving his domestic side Mumbai for 14 years.
17. Laxmi Ratan Shukla
Laxmi Ratan Shukla played 11 matches and scored 75 runs at an average of 12.50. The right-handed batter was associated with Kolkata until 2013. In December 2015, the right-handed Bengal batter retired from all forms of cricket. From 2016 to 2021, he was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from West Bengal, on the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) ticket.
16. Ryan ten Doeschate
Ryan ten Doeschate. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Ryan ten Doeschate played IPL from 2011 to 2015 and in those five years, he was seen in KKR colours only. In Knight Riders’ maiden title win, he contributed 21 runs in three matches. In 2022, he returned to KKR, taking up the job of fielding coach. From 2021 to 2023, he was also the batting coach of Kent in England’s county cricket.
15. Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Sanju Samson played his debut IPL game for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in 2013 but back in 2012, when KKR lifted the coveted trophy, he was a part of their camp. In the entire season, he warmed benches as Knight Riders had wicketkeeper batters such as Brendon McCullum and Manvinder Bisla, who were superior to him in terms of experience.
14. Eoin Morgan
Eoin Morgan commentary. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Eoin Morgan was one of the members of KKR in the 2012 IPL. The left-handed batter couldn’t get a chance to feature in Kolkata’s playing XI for the entire season, due to a team combination. After nine years of maiden title victory, Knight Riders concluded their journey in the 2021 IPL as runners-up and this time, the skipper was Morgan.
The legendary player retired from all forms of competitive cricket in February 2023. After hanging up his boots from the sport as a player, the former England skipper does commentary for the British TV channel Sky Sports.
13. Brad Haddin
Brad Haddin and Jitesh Sharma. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Along with Morgan, Brad Haddin was also one of the illustrious international names who was seen on benches in the dugout for the whole season. The wicketkeeper-batter announced his retirement from international cricket in September 2015. In 2019, he was the assistant coach of Hyderabad.
12. Mohammed Shami
Shami (Photo Source: X/Twitter)
Mohammed Shami started his IPL journey in KKR colours in 2013. The speedster was present in the KKR camp in 2012, as well. Since 2022, Shami has been a vital part of the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the cash-rich league. he also became the Purple Cap winner in the 2023 IPL. In Team India, the veteran bolsters the pace attack along with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
11. Manoj Tiwary
Manoj Tiwary. (Photo Courtesy – Twitter/X)
Manoj Tiwary was the batter who hit winning runs for KKR in the final against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The right-handed batter contributed 260 runs to KKR in 16 matches at a strike rate of 105.69. Tiwary was active in the cash-rich league until 2018. In February 2024, he retired from all formats of the sport after playing his Ranji game for Bengal against Bihar at Eden Gardens.
In 2021 he became the MLA from Shibpur constituency in West Bengal and assumed the office for minister of state for Affairs of Sports and Youth.
Also check: 6 Indian cricketers who joined politics
10. Manvinder Bisla
Manvinder Bisla. (Photo Source: Twitter)
In the final against CSK at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Manvinder Bisla did a magnificent job as an opener and guided Kolkata to a five-wicket win, with his 89-run knock off just 48 deliveries. Bisla doesn’t play IPL anymore after getting unsold in the 2015 auction held in Bengaluru.
9. Brendon McCullum
Brendon McCullum. (Photo Source: Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Brendon McCullum showed up in 12 games for KKR and scored 289 runs in 12 matches at an average of 24.08. In February 2019, he brought the curtains down to his cricketing career as a player. The former New Zealand stumper-batter became the KKR coach in 2020. He served the side for three seasons and under his guidance, Knight Riders concluded their journey as runners-up in the 2021 IPL. Since 2022, he has been rendering services to England’s Test team as coach.
Also read: England have been ‘exposed’ by India, require pretty deep thinking: Brendon McCullum
8. Yusuf Pathan
Yusuf Pathan and Mamata Banerjee. (Photo source: BCCI/IPL and Twitter)
Yusuf Pathan chipped in with 194 runs and three wickets in KKR’s title victory. The all-rounder was associated with Kolkata until 2017 and he played an enormous role in Kolkata’s second title win in 2014. In February 2021, Yusuf announced his retirement from all forms of the game and ended his 20-year cricketing career.
In March 2024, Pathan joined TMC as an MP candidate from the Berhampore constituency.
7. Brett Lee
Brett Lee. (Photo Source: Brett Lee TV/ YouTube)
Brett Lee was seen in KKR colours from 2011 to 2013. In 2012, he spearheaded Kolkata’s pace attack and grabbed seven wickets in 10 matches at an economy of 7.86. The paceman called time on his international career in July 2012. In January 2015, the former Australia player retired from all forms of the sport. Nowadays, he serves the sport as a commentator.
6. Shakib Al Hasan
Shakib al Hasan (Photo Source: Twitter)
Shakib Al Hasan contributed to KKR’s success with his all-round excellence. The Bangladesh stalwart racked up 91 runs and 12 wickets in eight matches. The star Bangla batter is still active in all three formats of international cricket. In the 2023 World Cup played in India, the veteran held the reins of Bangladesh. Shakib also got a seat in Bangladesh’s parliament after winning the 2024 general elections in his nation.
5. Laksmipathy Balaji
MS Dhoni and Lakshmipathy Balaji. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Lakshmipathy Balaji did his job efficiently for Kolkata. He bagged 11 wickets in eight matches at a frugal economy of 5.40. The speedster couldn’t show up in the final clash against CSK, due to a hamstring injury. In July 2017, the pacer retired from all forms of the sport. From 2018 to 2022, he served Super Kings as their bowling coach.
4. Rajat Bhatia
Rajat Bhatia. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Rajat Bhatia can be called the unsung hero of Knight Riders’ title victory. The medium pacer appeared in 17 games and got 13 wickets at a thrifty economy of 7.31. He was part of KKR until 2013 and after getting released from the 2012 champion side, he served Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Rising Pune Supergiant. In 2020, the Delhi-born player hung up his boots from all forms of cricket. After retiring, Bhatia does commentary and shares his insights on the game.
3. Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis. (Photo Source: curly.tales/Instagram)
Jacques Kallis looked effective in all departments of the game for Kolkata. With the bat, he scored 490 runs in 17 contests while as a bowler, he claimed 15 wickets at an economy of 7.46. In July 2014, the all-rounder retired from all forms of the sport. After retiring as a player, Kallis served Knight Riders as head coach from 2015 to 2019.
2. Sunil Narine
Sunil Narine. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Sunil Narine played an instrumental role in KKR’s triumph. The right-arm off-break bowler took 24 wickets in 15 contests at an economy of 5.47 and ended up as the second-highest wicket-taker in the competition. He is still associated with Knight Riders and is the most experienced player in the side. The veteran hasn’t played international cricket since 2019 but participates in league competitions.
1. Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir. (Photo Courtesy – Twitter/X)
Gautam Gambhir led from the front and handed KKR their first trophy. He concluded the competition as the second-leading run-scorer with 590 runs in 17 matches at an impressive strike rate of 143.55.
Under the Southpaw’s leadership, Kolkata added another trophy to its cabinet in 2014. Following the 2017 season, he parted ways with Knight Riders. In November 2018, he announced his retirement from all forms of the sport. The former India opener will return to KKR in the 2024 IPL, as a mentor. The 2011 World Cup champion also has a contract with Star Sports, as a commentator.