Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) wicketkeeper-batter Sheldon Jackson feels they have a strong squad which can produce the desired result in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

“The team management retained four important players (Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Venkatesh Iyer) and picked good players from the auction. So, we have a balanced squad. Personally I am happy to be back in the KKR dressing room,” Sheldon told The Telegraph on Sunday.

Sheldon thinks the auction has gone very well for his side.

“We have picked players like Ajinkya Rahane, Nitish Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Pat Cummins, Sam Billings and others. The team is a mixture of youth and experience. The team management has done its work. Now we have to perform on the ground,” he said.

Sheldon, who plays Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra, has played 67 first-class matches and scored 2346 runs, his highest being an unbeaten 150.

Returning to the KKR fold is like ‘homecoming’ for Sheldon. The wicketkeeper-batter has been a part of the franchise in the past, having played here from 2009 to 2010 and 2015 to 2017. The only other franchise that he was a part of was the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from 2013 to 2014.

“I have groomed with this squad. So it feels great to be back at KKR again. It is like homecoming,” he said.

He thinks he has greater responsibility this time around. “I have not yet spoken to head coach Brendon McCullum. I will talk to him and the other coaching staff and go forward accordingly,” the 35-year-old said.

Billings and Baba Indrajith are the other wicket-keeeper batters in the KKR squad. Sheldon says he has no competition with anyone. He just wants do his job.

“I am always willing to learn. Whenever I get the chance, I will give my 100 per cent. We all have gone through a very tough time due to the pandemic and hope we have the most exciting IPL this year,” he said.