Champions one season and eighth the next! Kolkata Knight Riders’ campaign in the Indian Premier League 2025 season was heavily inconsistent after they decided to let go of their title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer last year. And their marquee signing Venkatesh Iyer (INR 23.75 crore) failed to impress with a meagre tally of 142 runs at an average of 20.28 and a strike rate of 139.21.That makes it a no-brainer for KKR to release him into the auction pool and buy him back, if at all, they require his services again this season. Along with Iyer, it is highly likely that the Kolkata-based franchise would also try to do away with the injury-prone pace trio of Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, and Umran Malik. That will take KKR’s purse amount in excess of INR 30 crore and in pole position to drive their strategic signings.
Make-or-Break decisions
With six players, out of the total 23, above the 33-year-old mark, KKR is an aging side by the standards of the fast-paced nature of T20s. The side will have some crucial decisions to make as it approaches the auction table, with Andre Russell putting them in an uncomfortable position.
The 36-year-old Russell has been KKR’s royal servant for 11 seasons now, but the time is fast running out for him after a dubious season by his standards earlier this year. The former West Indies all-rounder managed just 167 runs at an average of 18.55 and a strike rate of 163.72 with the bat, while picking eight wickets in 13 games. The team management can adopt the same approach as Iyer’s to release Russell before re-acquiring him via the auctions, which will allow them to earmark more funds for their prospective signings.
Sunil Narine, however, is certain to be retained by KKR, with the all-rounder managing 12 wickets at an economy of 7.80 despite a horrific season with the bat at the top of the order. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who is also 36 years old, will also keep his place after finishing as the top run getter for KKR in the last season.
High-profile signings on the cards
With a huge purse at its disposal, KKR is expected to call the shots at the mini auction in its aim to build the team for the long term. The side is expected to go for either Sanju Samson or KL Rahul in its bid to replace Rahane to lead the side once he is done. Both wicketkeeper-batters have led IPL sides in the past and can handle the pressures that come along with captaincy.
But the Kolkata-based outfit will have to do away with either Quinton de Kock or Rahmanullah Gurbaz to sign one among Samson or Rahul. De Kock had a lukewarm season in the 2025 edition with a meagre return of 152 runs in eight matches, averaging just 21.71 at a strike rate of 129.91. Meanwhile, Gurbaz was also underwhelming in the limited game time that he got, with 74 runs from five games this season. With Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi expected to play at three and four, respectively, either of the Indian wicketkeeping pair, if signed, will be slotted in to open the innings alongside Narine.
With the spotlight on Russell and Moeen Ali ahead of the auction, Cameron Green can prove to be an ideal replacement as a big-hitting all-rounder in case KKR decides to move on from the veteran duo. The Aussie all-rounder can be a handy middle-order bat and can double up for the side with his medium pacers. Rovman Powell is another option who can be dangerous at the death with his power hitting, with KKR not utilising the services of the former West Indies captain last season.
The offloading of the pace trio of Nortje, Johnson, and Malik will leave KKR with only Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Chetan Sakariya in the fast bowling department. They will need to reinforce that department with pacers who can hold their own in the death overs, with Arora struggling to excel in that phase of the game. T Natarajan and Vijaykumar Vyshak will be automatic choices for them, in case Delhi Capitals or Punjab Kings let go off these players from their roster. The spin department, however, looks balanced with Mayank Markande and Anukul Roy chipping in to support the frontline duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Narine.
KKR Probable XII: Sunil Narine, Sanju Samson/KL Rahul (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell/Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy