Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked Kolkata Knight Riders’ playing XI for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. The renowned commentator expects the franchise to qualify for the playoffs.

KKR could not manage to finish among the top four teams in the previous season, winning six out of the 14 matches they played in the league stage.

Chopra expects KKR to open the innings with Rahmanullah Gurbaz or Phil Salt.

“Get Phil Salt to open if you have kept him and he was in good form last year also. You can also open with Rahmanullah Gurbaz instead of Phil Salt. So you are going to have an overseas keeper. Then Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“Rinku Singh is in amazing form. You can keep Andre Russell at No. 6. You have to keep Sunil Narine as always. After that, Harshit Rana and Mitchell Starc. You can go towards Chetan Sakariya or any other fast bowler, and then Varun Chakaravarthy,” Chopra added.

The renowned commentator reckons KKR could use Manish Pandey as an impact sub in the upcoming season.

“The team is looking good. They can use Manish Pandey as the Impact Sub, last year they were using Venkatesh Iyer. They can use Anukul Roy or Suyash Sharma,” he observed.

The former KKR player added that the franchise strategy will be to play on a turning pitch at Eden Gardens.

“They are relying on Indian batting. So they will force the Eden Gardens curator and administration a little to prepare a turning pitch. So this team’s strategy will be to play on a turning pitch at home,” he said.

KKR last won the IPL trophy back in 2014 and they will look to come up with a collective effort. The Shreyas Iyer-led team will begin their IPL campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on March 23.