IPL Auction 2025: Shreyas Iyer miraculously comes back in KKR's plans
Published - 22 Nov 2024, 11:57 AM | Updated - 22 Nov 2024, 11:34 PM
Table of Contents
As the highly anticipated IPL 2025 auction approaches, all ten teams are finalizing their combinations for next year's T20 tournament. The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are reportedly keen on reacquiring Team India middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer in the upcoming mega auction.
The Knight Riders released Shreyas despite leading the team to the title in the IPL 2024. They retained key players like Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh. Notably, the defending champions have ₹51 crore left to build the rest of their squad.
Kolkata Knight Riders Have Strong Interest to Buy Back Shreyas Iyer
Delhi Capitals (DC) are rumored to be targeting Shreyas Iyer in the IPL 2025 auction. They would likely go all out for the Mumbai batter. However, the Capitals will face stiff competition from Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). DC has a remaining budget of ₹73 crore for the auction.
However, according to a Cricbuzz report, Kolkata Knight Riders have a strong interest in buying back Shreyas. Notably, the Kolkata-based team can't use the Right to Match (RTM) card for acquiring Iyer in the auction, as they have used all six retentions, including two uncapped players, before the auction.
The highly anticipated IPL 2025 mega auction, with many marquee players, will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24-25.
Shreyas Iyer Appointed as KKR Captain After IPL 2022 Mega Auction
Shreyas joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022 for ₹12.5 crore. He was then appointed skipper of the team. The right-handed batter scored 401 runs in 14 matches at an average of 30.85 and a strike rate of 134.56, including three half-centuries. He had to miss the entire 2023 season due to a back injury.
The Mumbai batter returned to lead the team in IPL 2024 and guided them to their first title in the last 10 years. He became the second captain after Gautam Gambhir to lead KKR to the title. Overall, Iyer has scored 3,127 runs in 115 IPL matches at a decent average of 32.24 and a strike rate of 127.48.
Aakash Chopra Backs Shreyas Iyer to Become Most Expensive Batter in IPL 2025 Auction
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra said that Shreyas will be the most expensive batter in the IPL 2025 auction. Chopra stated that Iyer will attract significant interest, adding that he may not fetch ₹20 crore.
Also read: BCCI clears the air with an official statement on Shubman Gill's future in India vs Australia Tests
