Kolkata Knight Riders Complete Squad After IPL 2025 Auction

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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) entered the IPL 2025 mega auction with a purse of ₹51 crore. The franchise had retained six core players, including Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell.

However, the team made a bold move by releasing their captain, Shreyas Iyer, ahead of the auction. Iyer was later picked by Punjab Kings and appointed as their captain, leaving KKR with the challenge of identifying a new leader for IPL 2025.

KKR’s primary objective in the auction was to assemble a balanced squad with cost-effective signings while ensuring their core strengths remained intact. The team adopted a measured approach, targeting key players across departments to strengthen their lineup.

On the first day of the auction, KKR made their intentions clear by splurging ₹23.75 crore on their star signing, Venkatesh Iyer, emphasizing their focus on an experienced middle-order batter. The franchise also brought back young talents like Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, ensuring depth in the batting department.

With ₹10.05 crore left in their purse on Day 2, KKR focused on all-rounders and bowlers to round off their squad. They added impactful players like Rovman Powell and Spencer Johnson, while veteran batter Manish Pandey made a comeback to the KKR camp. These additions provided KKR with flexibility and experience in crucial roles.

Kolkata Knight Riders Final Squad for IPL 2025

Retained Players: Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh

Auction Signings: Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Ajinkya Rahane, Umran Malik, Ankul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Moeen Ali

Batting Unit

KKR’s batting lineup looks strong with a mix of explosive hitters and stabilizers.

• Rinku Singh: Retained for his consistent performances, Rinku will be pivotal in finishing games for KKR.
• Venkatesh Iyer: The big buy for KKR this season, Iyer’s ability to control the middle overs and finish games makes him invaluable.
• Quinton de Kock: An experienced wicketkeeper-batter, de Kock adds power and reliability at the top of the order.
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Known for his aggressive batting in the powerplay, Gurbaz will provide attacking options at the top.
• Manish Pandey: A dependable middle-order batter, Pandey’s experience will be crucial in building partnerships.
• Ajinkya Rahane: The seasoned batter adds stability and a calm head to the batting lineup.
  The inclusion of Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Luvnith Sisodia enhances KKR’s batting depth.

All-Rounders

KKR strengthened their all-rounder department with impactful additions.

• Andre Russell: A powerhouse performer, Russell remains KKR’s go-to player for explosive batting and crucial overs with the ball.
• Rovman Powell: A dynamic all-rounder, Powell’s hitting ability and occasional overs with the ball make him a valuable addition.
• Moeen Ali: Known for his spin-bowling all-rounder role, Ali brings versatility to the team with both bat and ball.
• Ankul Roy and Ramandeep Singh: Budget-friendly options who provide flexibility in the playing XI.

Bowling Attack

KKR addressed their bowling needs with a blend of youth and experience.

• Varun Chakravarthy: Retained as the lead spinner, Chakravarthy’s mystery spin remains a key weapon for KKR.
• Sunil Narine: A legend in the T20 format, Narine adds depth with his spin and lower-order batting.
• Anrich Nortje: A premium overseas pacer, Nortje’s pace and accuracy will lead KKR’s bowling attack.
• Spencer Johnson: The left-arm pacer adds variety to the pace unit with his ability to swing the ball.
• Vaibhav Arora and Umran Malik: Promising Indian pacers who bring pace and aggression to the bowling lineup.
• Mayank Markande: A crafty leg-spinner, Markande adds depth to the spin department.

Wicketkeeping

KKR boasts solid wicketkeeping options with Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, both of whom are attacking batters capable of providing starts at the top of the order.

Conclusion

Kolkata Knight Riders have built a balanced squad for IPL 2025, focusing on reinforcing their batting and adding versatile all-rounders. The release of Shreyas Iyer has opened up opportunities for a new captain to step forward. With experienced campaigners like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Anrich Nortje, coupled with promising young talents, KKR looks well-prepared to compete for another IPL title.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Team 2025 Players List:

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