CT IPL Flashback: 5 Players who once played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL

The Kolkata Knight Riders has been one of the most successful teams in the auctions over the years in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, the franchise is one of the most well known and popular among the fans. The purple and golden outfit has been crowned champion twice of the most happening domestic league in the world. They first won the title in 2012 and repeated the same in the year 2014 led both times by Indian opener Gautam Gambhir. The list is huge when it comes to the players that have played for this franchise but not all have convincingly left their mark. So here is our list of 5 players who once played for the KKR but are now almost forgotten by the fans. 1. Salman Butt (Photo Source: PTI) The left-handed batsman was grabbed by the Knight Riders in the inaugural season of the Indian Premier League but did not enjoy a very good time with the bat. Salman featured in 7 games for the franchise and scored a total of 193 runs with the highest score of 73 failing to do any good for his team. The Pakistani opener did not play for any other team in the IPL after he was released by the KKR at the end of the first season and Pakistan players didn’t feature in the league thereafter. He had a decent average of 27.57 with the bat in the seven matches he played for his team but failed to leave a long lasting impact on the owners of his franchise. 2. Tatenda Taibu Wicket Keeper Tatenda Taibu of Zimbabwe. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty Images) The Zimbabwean was known for his dual role as a wicketkeeper and a batsman and was thus picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008 as one of their foreign players. Unfortunately, Taibu did not receive the number of opportunities he would have liked as he was included in only 3 matches for the franchise. In the three matches he played, he managed 31 runs with the highest score of 15 which was nothing extraordinary. His spell in the IPL ended after the first season itself as he did not play for any other team in the league. 3. Umar Gul (Photo Source: BCCI) The pacer from Pakistan was another player who enjoyed a short and dull stint in the Indian Premier League. Being a part of the Kolkata team in the first season Gul was seen in the first XI only in six matches where he picked up 12 wickets. Though his performance was pretty good in the six matches he played, Gul had to face the axe. Unlike his time in the IPL Gul has had a decent career with his country, Pakistan. He has bagged 163 and 179 wickets in Tests and one-day internationals respectively and was their premier fast bowler at one point in time. 4. Shane Bond (Photo Source: BCCI) Known for his tremendous pace, Shane Bond is one of New Zealand’s finest pacers. Bond featured in the Indian Premier League for a single season and was one of Kolkata’s main signings of the year 2010. The right-handed fast bowler played eight matches for the Knights but did not live up to the expectations of the franchise and fans. He managed to pick up 9 wickets in the eight matches he played at an average of 24.88. His best figure during the short stay was 2/24 and was released by the franchise after an unsuccessful season with the ball. 5. Mohammad Hafeez Mohammed Hafeez . (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images Latin America for CPL) The former Pakistan captain was one of Kolkata’s the most unsuccessful buys ever. The allrounder could only score 64 runs from eight matches during his time with the Knight Riders at an average of 9.14. His bowling figures were also not impressive as he only picked up 2 wickets in the 10 overs he bowled in the league. Hafeez who is not known for his big hitting abilities was roped in by Shah Rukh Khan owned team in 2008 but was released after the season as Pakistan players were forbidden from talking part in the Indian domestic T20 league.

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CT IPL Flashback: 5 Players who once played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL

3. Umar Gul

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