Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) full squad composition, Probable playing XI and IPL 2025 auction analysis. How did KKR fare at the IPL 2025 Auction? A complete KKR squad analysis.
Amidst India’s triumphant victory in Perth down under, the blockbuster Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction has all but drawn to a close, the auction commenced in full swing on November 24 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where franchises visibly went haywire while securing their favorite picks and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) too were involved in an intense bidding war. KKR had reportedly spent a staggering 50.95 crore INR to shortlist 21 out of a maximum of 25 players in the squad and by the time the auction came to an end, the 2024 IPL champions were left with a purse value of a mere 5 lakh INR.
The heavyweights including the likes of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz give the team an explosive outlook whereas having someone like Varun Chakaravarthy, Moeen Ali, Harshit Rana, and Spencer Johnson at the helm bolsters their already potent bowling attack.
However, the Kolkata-based outfit has made some interesting moves in the mega auction that left many fans and experts bewildered. Perhaps the most baffling move of them all was their decision to invest a whopping 23.75 crore INR on Venkatesh Iyer. Many believe that the KKR think tank got too far ahead of themselves while shelling a colossal amount on Venkatesh.
Furthermore, with the addition of fresh faces like Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Mayank Markande, it remains to be seen how the defending champions will fare with a new setup of players ahead of the next IPL season.
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Let’s take a closer look and analyse how the overall KKR squad is shaping up ahead of the much-awaited upcoming IPL season.
Complete squadÂ
Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Anrich Nortje, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane, Ankul Roy, Moeen Ali, Umran Malik, and Rovman Powell
Batters & wicket keepers
KKR are fortunate to end up with a plethora of batting options. They have succeeded in securing the services of high-profile frontline batters at their disposal who have an accomplished track record in the IPL. Quinton has represented five IPL franchises and has amassed over 3000 runs at an impressive average of nearly 32. The South Africa wicket-keeper batter has had the most amount of success with LSG scoring one century and seven half-centuries.
Besides, they also have the luxury of falling back on home-grown talent like Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, and Manish Pandey, who have played for other franchises over the years before switching allegiance to KKR. Rinku adds stability to the middle-order and can annihilate the opposition’s bowling during the middle and death overs. Pandey is the first centurion in the history of the IPL and has a formidable batting record along with Rahane who has served as a pillar in RR’s batting department for several editions.
Gurbaz has always been explosive at the top of the order. He can be someone who can offer a blistering start inside the powerplay and set the tone for the rest of the innings. Gurbaz is at his lethal best when the fielding restrictions are in place and has the innate potential to take the role of the aggressor in a high-octane run chase. Moreover, Gurbaz can also serve as a handy wicket-keeping option behind the stumps.
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List of specialist batters/wicket keepers
Quinton de Kock (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane
All-rounders
KKR’s success mantra will be defined on the basis of how efficiently they utilise their all-rounders. All-rounders such as Powell, Narine, Russell, Rana, and Moeen offer a unique dimension to the team’s composition. Not only can they benefit the team with their batting abilities but they also provide the team with viable spin and pace bowling options. All eyes will be on how the management decides to utilise their foreign batting all-rounders.
They have got far too many pinch hitters to choose from. Powell, Narine, and Russell, all of them have the capability to launch big shots. Their strike rates in T20 cricket are enough to instill fear in the minds of any formidable bowling attack. Russell and Narine have been loyal servants for KKR and have played an instrumental role over the years in helping the team establish their legacy in this cash-rich league. The West Indies duo has accounted for nearly 4000 runs and close to 300 wickets in the IPL for KKR.
Venkatesh Iyer has bagged the biggest deal of his lifetime becoming the third-most expensive player in IPL 2025. The batting all-rounder has been a consistent performer for the franchise over the past three years. He averages close to 31 with the bat and has slammed his best IPL knock of 104 against MI in 2023, a knock which established him as a batting powerhouse.
With so many explosive batters in the ranks, the management faces a challenging situation in their quest to boost their attacking edge whilst balancing out their bowling options. Moreover, the inclusion of these all-rounders in the lineup will also depend on external factors such as game situations and the state of the pitch.
List of all-rounders
Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Venkatesh Iyer, Ankul Roy, Moeen Ali
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Bowlers
KKR have variety in their bowling department. The defending champions are equipped with reliable spin bowling options like Chakravarthy, Narine, and Moeen. In addition, they have also roped in specialist speedsters in the ranks such as Nortje, Spencer, and Malik all of whom can fire thunderbolts in excess of 145 km/hr. Vaibhav and Mayank have a few notable contributions under their belt but are yet to establish themselves on the big stage.
Having a left-arm quick bowler like Spencer Johnson can really help KKR work on their left-right bowling combinations. In a format that demands versatility, the left-right bowling combinations can be a good way to counter the growing threat from the batters. Besides, Spencer has been in sensational form with the ball in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against Pakistan where he finished as the highest wicket-taker (8) while averaging only 9.87.
However, the only area that the KKR bowling department may lack in is immaculately death bowling. Apart from Narine, who bowls exceptionally well at the death whilst maintaining a tight economy rate of just 6.7 RPO, other bowlers are yet to demonstrate the same degree of success and control during the dying phases of the innings. With their reputation kept aside, bowlers like Nortje and Umran have a tendency of leaking runs and have proven expensive on many occasions for their side.
List of specialist bowlers:
Varun Chakaravarthy, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Spencer Johnson, Umran Malik
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Probable Playing XI
Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock/Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi/Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Anrich Nortje/Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora/Umran Malik
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ConclusionÂ
In this auction, KKR have succeeded in consolidating their depth in the batting lineup. Most of their batters are gifted with all-round abilities and can offer the franchise handy bowling options, be it spin or pace. They are not someone who can hold one end together but can also be destructive with the ball and chip in with wickets during the middle phase. Moreover, with their batting strike rate erring on the higher side, the KKR think tank can be rest assured of their batting abilities.
It will all come down to how KKR rotates their foreign reserves on a game-by-game basis. They will need to have a game plan in place to get the most out of them. Besides, their bowlers’ ability to execute plans in the death overs will also be put under the scanner. While Nortje and Harshit can be an asset with the new ball, KKR will have to identify new resources in their bowling department who can absorb the pressure and keep the run flow down at the death.
Kolkata Knights Riders are the proud winners of the 2012, 2014, and 2024 editions. They are all set to defend their title with a revamped team setup at the helm. But they will have to make do with a new captain this time around as they will be without the services of their former captain, Shreyas Iyer, who has been picked up by PBKS for 26.75 crore INR.
At this moment, it can’t be said for certain as to who will be leading the Kolkata-based outfit in the next IPL season. But in all likelihood, experts believe that Venkatesh Iyer could well get a green signal to take up the leadership responsibilities.
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