IPL Auction 2025: KKR Player List, Squad, Team List

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) headed into the IPL 2025 mega auction with a purse of ₹51 crores after retaining six key players for ₹69 crores. The two-time champions have held onto their Caribbean powerhouses Sunil Narine and Andre Russell who have been instrumental in the team's success since 2012.

The franchise's retention strategy was based on maintaining its middle-order and bowling strength. Rinku Singh, who emerged as the Riders finishing sensation with five sixes in the last over against Gujarat Titans in 2023 continues to anchor the lower middle order. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy who picked up 21 wickets in 14 innings will be crucial and give support to Sunil Narine.

Other notable among their retentions are two emerging talents - pace bowler Harshit Rana and all-rounder Ramandeep Singh. Both showed promise in limited opportunities last season, with Rana's death bowling particularly catching attention.

However, KKR's release of former captain Shreyas Iyer, who joins the marquee list alongside Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul is on intent revamping their top order and will be keen on buying some batters.

The team's shopping list likely includes a specialist wicketkeeper, following Rahmanullah Gurbaz's release, and at least two top-order batters. Their current roster of six players includes four Indians and two overseas stars, leaving room for five more foreign players under IPL rules.

The franchise's successful rebuild will largely depend on their ability to secure quality top-order batsmen who can complement their strong middle-order and versatile bowling attack, potentially a new era for the Knight Riders in IPL 2025.

Looking ahead to the mega auction scheduled shortly in 2024, KKR will face stiff competition from nine other franchises for a pool of over 500 players and would have to show financial flexibility and bid aggressively for their primary targets.

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IPL Auction 2025: KKR Player List, Squad, Team List