Fact Check: Are rumours about Ishan Kishan being traded to KKR true?

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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) retained a total of 13 players ahead of the IPL 2023 mini-auction which is scheduled to be held in the UAE on December 19. The team released a total of 12 players including wicketkeeper-batter Narayan Jagadeesan.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the only recognised wicketkeeper-batter in the retained list. Ever since the departure of Dinesh Karthik, the two-time champions have lacked a swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter in their ranks.

The rumour mills has it that KKR are sitting comfortably with a purse of Rs 32.7 crore ahead of the IPL 2024 mini-auction and are in no mood to trade a player from other franchise until and unless he is an India wicketkeeper-batter who is ready to be grabbed at a decent price.

Ishan Kishan is one Indian wicketkeeper-batter who can fit in the KKR camp. He can add to the star power of the team, and on the cricketing front he gives the team the option of a solid opener who can set the tone for the team from ball one.

However, Ishan Kishan comes with a massive price tag of Rs 15.25 crore. The fact that Mumbai Indian themselves do not have wicketkeeper-batter in their retained players list, further diminishes the chances of Ishan Kishan being traded to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

However, there is a way KKR can get the services of Ishan Kishan If at all they are willing to shell out Rs 15.25 crore. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will have to play a massive role in it.

LSG have three quality wicketkeeper-batters in KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, and Nicholas Pooran. If any of these, especially de Kock heads back to his home franchise Mumbai Indians, then there could be a chance for KKR to lure in Mumbai India to trade Ishan Kishan to them.

But the scenarios are highly unlikely. Ishan Kishan is an established Indian superstar and a former U-19 World Cup captain. There is no reason why the MI think tank would even think in their dreams to trade out Ishan Kishan who has been consistently performing for them from the last few years.