The franchise has spent Rs 57 crore of its allotted Rs 120 crore purse on retaining key players, leaving it with Rs 63 crore for the upcoming auction. Rinku Singh emerged as the highest-priced player, retained for 13 crore.
The Knight Riders won the IPL for the third time in 2024. They ended a decade-long trophy drought to complete a near-perfect season, losing just four of the 16 matches that they played.
KKR, under the captaincy of Gautam Gambhir, had won two titles in 2012 and 2014. This time the former India opener was the mentor of the title-winning team.
The franchise had a perfect blend of experienced players along with youngsters on their title run.
The mega IPL auction has come at the wrong time for this franchise as they had assembled a formidable team for the 2024 season. The team was well-oiled in each department, with designated roles to each player.Meanwhile, the team has parted ways with several key players from previous seasons. Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Nitish Rana, Phil Salt and Mitchell Starc among other players have been released.
Here are the key players that KKR is likely to go after in the IPL auction 2025:
- Mohammad Shami: Shami, who began his IPL career with the Knight Riders, is now one of India’s top pace bowling options. Capable of delivering in any phase of the game, he remains a valuable asset and could feature in at least one more IPL season, despite his recent injury.
- Venkatesh Iyer: Venkatesh Iyer, one of KKR’s most consistent performers in recent years, offers flexibility in the batting order and can bowl as needed by the team. He is certainly another former KKR player that the franchise would want to retain.
- Nehal Wadhera: A talented middle-order batsman who has performed consistently during his time with the Mumbai Indians, he presents an exciting long-term investment opportunity. Moreover, his versatility allows him to be utilized as a floater at any position in the middle order.
- Marco Jansen: The South African left-arm pacer will offer valuable all-round contributions to the defending champions, serving as a dependable option with both the new ball and in the death overs.
- Khaleel Ahmed: Another Indian pacer KKR could target, as he offers a left-arm option with the new ball, which is always a potent weapon. He has made a strong comeback in the last couple of years after a relatively quiet period over the previous seasons.
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi: After making a strong impact in his debut IPL season, the Kolkata Knight Riders will look to retain their 19-year-old prospect during the auction, following his first break in 2024.
- Sarfaraz Khan: After parting ways with Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana, the Knight Riders are in need of strong middle-order batters. Sarfaraz Khan could be a viable option for KKR, thanks to his fearless approach and experience with several IPL teams.
- Allah Ghazanfar: The Knight Riders have relied on Sunil Narine for over a decade, but if he doesn’t perform, theyâ€ll need a strong overseas spinner to step in. Allah Ghazanfar, who was part of the KKR squad last season, could prove to be a valuable asset if they bring the Afghan spinner back.
- Gerald Coetzee: The Knight Riders have consistently had a genuine fast bowler in their lineup. Last year, they made an aggressive bid for Starc, but ultimately released him before the auction. Gerald Coetzee is a player who could make an impact with both the new ball and in the death overs. Additionally, he has the ability to clear the boundary with the bat lower down the order.
- Azmatullah Omarzai: Andre Russell is a top class all-rounder, but his injury history makes it crucial for the Knight Riders to have a solid backup. Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai, who has played for Gujarat Titans and been consistent for his national team, could be an ideal replacement. He impressed in the recent ODI series against Bangladesh in Sharjah.
