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Here’s a look at defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders’ strongest playing XI for the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league, which is reportedly set to start on March 14, 2025.
KKR’s strongest playing XI for IPL 2025. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Kolkata Knight Riders retained six players from the title-winning 2024 squad ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction and managed to sign back six more players from the winner’s squad in the two-day event, which took place in Jeddah on November 24 and 25. But they failed to buy captain Shreyas Iyer, who joined PBKS for Rs 26.75 crore. KKR spent Rs 23.75 crore for Venkatesh Iyer and also sealed the services of Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Moeen Ali, and Ajinkya Rahane.
KKR signed 15 players for Rs 50.95 crore in the IPL 2025 and will have a total of 21 players available in their roster for the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league, which is reportedly set to start on March 14, 2025.
Here’s a look at KKR’s strongest XI for IPL 2025:
Sunil Narine: Sunil Narine is KKR’s most capped player and highest wicket-taker in IPL history. The legendary West Indies all-rounder won the MVP award in IPL 2024. He was retained for Rs 12 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Narine, who scored 488 runs in 15 matches of IPL 2024, is set to play as opener once again in IPL 2025.
Quinton de Kock (WK): Former South Africa’s Quinton de Kock is likely to play ahead of Rahmanullah Gurbaz as wicketkeeper-batter for KKR in IPL 2025. The left-handed batter, who has played for SRH, DC, RCB, MI, and LSG in the past, has 3157 runs to his name in 107 IPL matches played so far. He was signed for Rs 3.60 crore by the franchise in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi: KKR signed Mumbai batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi for Rs 3 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The right-handed batter made his IPL debut in 2024 and impressed with his performances for the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise.
Venkatesh Iyer: KKR signed batting all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 23.75 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. The 29-year-old cricketer, who made his IPL debut in 2021 and was retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, overall has 1326 runs and 3 wickets to his name in 51 IPL matches played so far.
Rinku Singh (C): Rinku Singh, who was KKR’s top retention for Rs 13 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, could lead the franchise in IPL 2025. He has been associated with KKR since the 2018 season, and the management showed a lot of faith in him by retaining him as the first-choice player. In 46 IPL matches played so far, he has scored 893 runs.
Andre Russell: Legendary West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell is KKR’s third leading run scorer (2426) and second leading wicket-taker (114) in IPL history. He was retained for Rs 12 crore by the three-time IPL champions ahead of the mega auction.
Ramandeep Singh: KKR retained Indian all-rounder Ramandeep Singh for Rs 4 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The 27-year-old Punjab-based cricketer, who recently made his T20I debut for India, has 170 runs and 6 wickets to his name in 20 IPL matches played so far for MI and KKR.
Harshit Rana: KKR retained fast bowler Harshit Rana for Rs 4 crore. Rana made his IPL debut in 2022 for the franchise and so far has dismissed 25 batters in 21 matches.
Vaibhav Arora: Uncapped Indian pacer Vaibhav Arora impressed with his performance in IPL 2024 for KKR, which is why he was signed for Rs 75 lakh in the mega auction once again by the franchise. Arora, who dismissed 11 batters in the IPL last year, overall has 20 wickets to his name in the cash-rich league.
Varun Chakravarthy: Varun Chakravarthy is KKR’s third highest wicket-taker (82) in IPL history. He was retained for Rs 12 crore ahead of the mega auction and will lead the franchise’s spin bowling attack in the IPL next year.
Anrich Nortje: KKR signed South African pacer Anrich Nortje, who has played for DC in the past, for Rs 6.50 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Nortje, who impressed with his performances in the T20 World Cup 2024, overall has 60 wickets to his name in 46 IPL matches played so far.
Other players: Spencer Johnson (Rs 2.80 crore), Moeen Ali (Rs 2 crore), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Rs 2 crore), Ajinkya Rahane (Rs 1.50 crore), Rovman Powell (Rs 1.50 crore), Umran Malik (Rs 75 lakh), Manish Pandey (Rs 75 lakh), Anukul Roy (Rs 40 lakh), Luvnith Sisodia (Rs 30 lakh), Mayank Markande (Rs 30 lakh)
