There’s No Bong Connection in Kolkata Knight Riders squad, despite playing well no bid for Bengal cricketers.
Local Bengal Cricketers have been declining In Kolkata Knight Riders squad for many years. But when they get the opportunity for other Indian Premier League franchise and the performances are very good.
There was a time when leading cricketers like Manoj Tiwary, Ashok Dinda and Lakhsmiratan Shukla used to play for Kolkata Knght Riders and now the tradition of Bengal players in KKR is completely vanished.
The team management and Venky Mysore always want to take the northern and southern boys in the team. And bidding into the auction for someone who doesn’t fit in the squad.
If you look at the other teams they always try to put some local players in their squad list. Even you look at the current squad of Kolkata Knight Riders you will find different players from different states but no availability of Bengal players.
Kolkata’s passion for cricket is always unparalleled. The Bengali spectators selflessly devoted their support to Kolkata Knight Riders but eventually there’s no local players who represent the Bengal soil to such National sporting events.
Indian Premier League started in 2008 and purpose of this league was to promote local players and help them grow. However someone do get the chance in the National side and someone doesn’t but the target was to make them visible too.
Unfortunately players like Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Porel, Srivats Goswami isn’t included in KKR’S priority list.
In 2008-10 when Sourav Ganguly captained the KKR side many local players got a chance in the first eleven and in the squad too. But few years down the line the trend hass changed. And it’s hard to accept that Bengal youth players are being neglected day by day by a team that represents the City.