Kolkata Knight Riders’ retention list had a major miss as captain Shreyas Iyer was released following the IPL 2024 triumph.
The Knight Riders opted to keep six players, but left out their talismanic skipper, who reportedly demanded an exorbitant salary.
Rinku Singh has been kept as the highest paid player at Rs 13 crore, while the trio of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy are set to play for KKR at Rs 12 crore. The defending champions also decided to keep hold of two uncapped Indians, Ramandeep Singh and Harshit Rana at Rs 4 crore each.
As the IPL 2025 auction approaches, KKR will have a purse of Rs 51 crore and they will have to formulate their remainder of the squad smartly. As Shreyas Iyer is unlikely to return, KKR will also have the task to find a potential captain who can lead them in the upcoming cycle.
Many of the Indian stars and overseas big names have been released by their respective squads. Although the likes of Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul are in the auction pool, KKR may not have the purse to bring one of them in the team as many other suitors with bigger purse may vie for them.
But still, there are a few top players up for grabs and KKR can look to fill their void after Shreyas’ departure.
David Warner
David Warner, the Australia veteran can be someone whom KKR may keep an eye on. Although Warner is past his prime, his sharp mind and experience can big of big help. The former Delhi Capitals player has been a stalwart of the game and will be someone who can galvanize the KKR side with his aggressive leadership.
Faf du Plessis
KKR can also bring in Faf du Plessis, who beside being a top batter, has proven to be an exceptional leader for South Africa. Although Du Plessis’ stint with RCB wasn’t as fruitful as it was expected, the veteran can still be a fantastic choice for them.
Mayank Agarwal
Mayank Agarwal had a torrid outing with Sunrisers Hyderabad last season and subsequently finds himself on the auction table. The India batter will be desperate for a new challenge and KKR can provide him just the perfect platform. It will be a challenge for the Karnataka player, but the Knight Riders can think him as a captain option.
Mitchell Marsh
Australia’s T20 captain Mitchell Marsh is another leadership option KKR can exploit in the auction. The all-rounder hasn’t fired in the IPL, but a move to KKR with the stalwarts such as Andre Russell and Sunil Narine can impact Marsh’s prospect highly. Also, the Aussie has been captaining his country quite brilliantly, which can also be another added bonus for the Knight Riders.
Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram, one of the most devastating batters in the T20 format, saw his stint at SRH derailed last season. Markram was removed from captaincy and then subsequently released after an underwhelming season. The South African has been excellent in other T20 leagues and his experience and skills can be beneficial for the Knight Riders.
