What will be the Best Playing XI of KKR for IPL 2025? The Kolkata Knight Riders entered the IPL 2025 Auction as the defending champions. KKR’s strategy in the auction was to buy as many of their old players as they could. Anyhow, they managed to do it as well. However, they ended up losing their captain Shreyas Iyer to the Punjab Kings at the auction. Let’s analyze the Best Playing 11 of KKR for IPL 2025.
Major Buys of KKR for IPL 2025
- Venkatesh Iyer: Rs. 23.75 crore.
- Anrich Nortje: Rs. 6.50 crore
- Quinton de Kock: Rs. 3.6 crore.
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi: Rs. 3 crore
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Rs. 2 crore.
- Rovman Powell: Rs. 2 crore.
- Ajinkya Rahane: Rs. 1.50 crore.
- Moeen Ali: Rs. 2 crore.
Retained Core of KKR
KKR retained a strong core from their previous season, including:
- Rinku Singh: Rs. 13 crore.
- Varun Chakaravarthy: Rs. 12 crore.
- Sunil Narine: Rs. 12 crore.
- Andre Russell: Rs. 12 crore.
- Harshit Rana: Rs. 4 crore.
- Ramandeep Singh: Rs. 4 crore.
KKR Squad Overview for IPL 2025
Rinku Singh, Quinton De Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markhande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Ajinkya Rahane, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Umran Malik.
Best Playing XI of KKR for IPL 2025
Best KKR Playing 11 for IPL 2025 will look something like this:
- Quinton de Kock (Wk)
- Sunil Narine (Bat/Spin)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Bat)
- Venkatesh Iyer (Bat/Pace)
- Rinku Singh (Bat)
- Andre Russell (Bat/Pace)
- Ramandeep Singh (Bat/Pace)
- Harshit Rana (Pace)
- Varun Chakaravarthy (Spin)
- Vaibhav Arora (Pace)
- Anrich Nortje (Pace)
Quinton de Kock
KKR acquired him for ₹3.6 crore. He averages 31.26 with a strike rate of 134.23 in IPL history. Many a times Quinton de Kock has clutched it for his IPL franchises and he will be looking forward to doing the same at KKR. KKR have bought him to replace their IPL 2024 wicketkeeper Phil Salt.
Sunil Narine
A KKR stalwart, Narine has been with KKR all his IPL career. He has taken 180 wickets while also scoring 1,534 runs. He maintains an economy rate of just 6.67. Sunil Narine had a breakthrough season in IPL 2024 both with the bat and the ball. After being promoted to opener, Narine scored 488 runs with the bat for KKR. He also picked up 17 wickets and was the MVP of IPL 2024 in KKR’s trophy win.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi
The young batter cost KKR ₹3 crore and they fought hard for him. Angkrish Raghuvanshi is a promising talent. He was a part of the KKR camp in IPL 2024. He played some good innings for KKR in the absence of Nitish Rana and even scored a fifty in his first innings. This season, he is likely to be the permanent Number 3 for KKR.
Venkatesh Iyer (Bat/Seam)
KKR went all in for Iyer and bought him for Rs. 23.75 Crores, making him KKR’s most expensive player in IPL 2025. Venkatesh Iyer has been a core member of KKR for the last 4 seasons and will likely captain them in IPL 2025. He averages 31.57 and has a strike rate of 137.13. He can also contribute with the ball if required. Venkatesh Iyer at 4 makes sense because he can stabilize as well as accelerate according to the situation.
Rinku Singh (Bat)
Retained for ₹13 crore, Rinku has become a reliable middle-order batsman. He boasts a strike rate of about 143 in the IPL. Despite a mediocre IPL 2024 season, the Kolkata Knight Riders retained him for IPL 2025. KKR will expect him to finish games for them in IPL 2025.
Andre Russell (Bat/Seam)
A game-changer. Russell was retained by KKR for ₹12 crore. He holds a strike rate of over 170 in his IPL career and excels as an all-rounder. He has been associated with the franchise for more than a decade and can single-handedly win games on his good days.
Ramandeep Singh (Bat/Seam)
One of the two uncapped retained players. Ramandeep was retained for ₹4 crore. He adds depth to the batting lineup and can bowl seam as well. He was impressive last season with huge sixes and late finishes for KKR. He played some good innings in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup as well. He comes back to KKR as a more mature player.
Varun Chakravarthy (Spin)
Retained for ₹12 crore, Chakravarthy is known for his mystery spin. He has taken 83 wickets at an economy rate of around 7.5. He was KKR’s highest wicket-taker in IPL 2024. He continued his stellar run in international cricket as well. Thus, KKR will be expecting him to mark the same run in IPL 2025 as well.
Harshit Rana (Seam)
A promising fast bowler, Rana was retained for ₹4 crore. Harshit Rana impressed everyone with his pace in IPL 2024 as he scalped 19 wickets. He also debuted for India in Tests against Australia.
Anrich Nortje (Seam)
Acquired for ₹6.5 crore, Nortje brings express pace to the attack. He has a strong wicket-taking record in previous seasons. Nortje will most likely open the bowling for KKR alongside young talent Vaibhav Arora.
Vaibhav Arora (Seam)
Vaibhav Arora showed good control on the new ball in IPL 2024. He has the ability to swing the new ball and that’s exactly what KKR need him to do.
Impact Player Options
KKR’s bench strength looks as promising as their Best Playing 11. However, two prominent impact player options for KKR are Manish Pandey and Umran Malik. Manish Pandey played as an impact player in IPL 2024 as well. He can save KKR from a collapse. On the other hand, Umran Malik can give KKR that extra bowling option. He has raw pace and can dismantle any batting lineup on a good day.
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