IPL 2025: Players Kolkata Knight Riders will regret missing out on

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be looking to defend their title in IPL 2025. The Kolkata-based outfit had a dominating campaign in IPL 2024 and they will be looking to come up with a similar performance in the upcoming season as well.

However, things could get a bit difficult for the three-time IPL champions as they missed out on some big signings in the mega auction.

While KKR have still managed to assemble a squad capable enough to go deep in the tournament, they might regret not buying several other players. Here we are taking a look at three such players Kolkata Knight Riders might regret missing out on.

IPL 2025: Players Kolkata Knight Riders will regret missing out on

Shreyas Iyer:

Kolkata Knight Riders failed to secure the services of their former captain Shreyas Iyer in the auction. Iyer played an instrumental role in his leadership in the team's victorious campaign last season. Iyer received praise from all around for the way he led the side.

The right-handed batsman led the team from the very front and scored 351 runs with the bat. However, KKR failed to sign him up for IPL 2025. They did bid for the star batsman but eventually pulled out of the race. In the end, Punjab Kings signed up Iyer for a whopping amount of INR 26.75 crore.

Phil Salt:

Another big name that Kolkata Knight Riders missed out on was none other than Phil Salt, their star opener in IPL 2024. Salt's stunning performance at the top of the order was one of the main reasons behind the team's success. Salt scored 435 runs in 12 games at a strike rate of 182.

KKR tried all they could to sign him but failed to secure his services. They bid for him till the INR 11.25 crore mark before pulling out. In the end, Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed up Salt for 11.50 crore.

Mitchell Starc:

KKR went big for Mitchell Starc as well but could not sign him. The reigning champions went for a bid of more than 10 crore for the Australia star but lost the race. In the end, Delhi Capitals signed up Starc for INR 11.25 crore.

Starc also played a huge role in KKR's success last season. While he did not start the tournament on a good note, he regained his top form towards the end. Starc also bagged the Player of the Match awards in the qualifier and the final.

Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2025:

Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Umran Malik.