Defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders‘ batting line-up is surely a force to be reckoned with. The team did a phenomenal job – both in terms of retention and buying players at the auction – and have succeeded in amassing what could be one of the strongest batting unit in IPL 2025. While the team retained powerhouses like Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh, the team also made some big buys and steal deals featuring the likes of Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Ajinkya Rahane among other stalwarts.
KKR’s best batting line-up for IPL 2025
- Sunil Narine
- Quinton de Kock
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Andre Russell
- Rinku Singh
Narine to join forces with de Kock as KKR’s openers
Sunil Narine has cemented his position as KKR opener with his fiery performances over the last 7 years at the top-order. The Caribbean entered the side as a bowler but was given a surprise promotion to the top-order – a gamble that has reaped rewards for the franchise for many years. Unusual for a bowler, Narine has amassed 1534 runs in 176 matches and boasts of a strike rate of 165.84. thus providing KKR with the exact explosive start that they expect.
While Narine’s partner in IPL 2024 was Phil Salt, he will now find a new opener to pair with in the form of Quinton de Kock. The ex-LSG star is no stranger to either the IPL or the opening position and is considered one of the most lethal batters. With 3157 runs from 107 IPL games, the South African already has two centuries and 23 fifties to his name, with more to come. Along with Narine, de Kock will complete one of the most destructive opening pair that KKR has ever produced.
| Player | Mat | Runs | Avg | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quniton de Kock | 107 | 3157 | 31.26 | 134.23 |
| Sunil Narine | 176 | 1534 | 17.04 | 165.84 |
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Red-hot Rahane at number 3
KKR managed to get a steal deal at IPL 2025 auction by acquiring the services of veteran Ajinkya Rahane at his base price of Rs 1.5 cr. What makes the deal more sweeter is the Mumbai batter’s red-hot form in T20s, especially after his sizzling performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. For majority of his career, Rahane was considered a Test player and not a T20 material. He broke that myth during his stint with CSK in IPL 2023 and 2024. And he is continuing to do so in domestic tournaments as well. KKR cannot ask for a more reliable number 3 batter than Rahane in IPL 2025.
| Mat | Runs | Avg | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 185 | 4642 | 30.14 | 123.42 | 2 | 30 | 478 | 103 |
Iyer, Russell, Rinku headline star-studded middle-order
At number four comes KKR’s Rs 23.75 cr buy Venkatesh Iyer. The southpaw was released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2025 auction, only for the team to break their bank to buy back the star. Since 2021, Iyer has been one of the most consistent batters for KKR and has played the dual role of an anchor and aggressor effectively. He has 1326 runs from 50 IPL matches and averages 31.57.
At number five is the big-hitter Andre Russell. The Caribbean star is another IPL veteran who has been associated with KKR for a long time and has served as their primary finisher. With 2484 runs to his name, Russell is easily one of the most terrorizing batters in IPL with his ability to pump sixes out of the park with his destructive striking ability.
Rinku Singh, another star who has been retained by KKR, will be the number six batter and the prime finisher for KKR. The UP big-hitter is a big believer of hitting nothing but big sixes and finishing off games for the side.
| Player | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 50 | 1326 | 31.57 | 137.13 |
| Andre Russell | 126 | 2484 | 29.22 | 174.93 |
| Rinku Singh | 45 | 893 | 30.79 | 143.34 |
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