Kolkata Knight Riders, last edition’s champions and the third most successful team after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, have three IPL trophies in their cabinet. If we look back, KKR has a history of trusting big Australian names, starting with Ricky Ponting, Brad Hogg, and Aaron Finch. All such players have been part of this team in the past, and currently, the big name Mitchell Starc is in the team. In the last auction, he joined this franchise, as KKR signed him for a hefty ₹24.75 crores, which is a clear example of how they have trusted Australian talent. Now, the IPL 2025 auction is clearly grabbing attention, as apart from six players, every team needs to release the remaining players, which means we will see a huge auction coming. So, what can KKR do this time, especially with Aussie talents? Can they go for some Australians this time? If yes, then who could they target? See three top-quality players that the IPL 2024 champions could go after.
Australians KKR should target in IPL 2025
Pat Cummins
The first name, and probably the most difficult one to argue about, is Pat Cummins, who led SRH to the IPL 2024 finals. More than this, he has transformed the defensive SRH into a team that now plays an attacking style of cricket. But what if Pat Cummins gets released by the Hyderabad franchise? Which teams could go for him? If we look at Shreyas Iyer, who is currently the KKR captain, there were rumors that Iyer may not return to the KKR camp again, as he is currently struggling with the bat in domestic tournaments and not able to capitalize on opportunities. If things continue this way, we may see some big changes.
Cummins could end up under the radar if SRH releases him, and KKR could be interested in bringing him into the fold, possibly as a leader. However, nothing is confirmed, as teams need to finalize their retention lists before October 31. If Iyer is not on the list and Cummins is not retained by SRH, we may see KKR’s interest in Cummins grow.
Steve Smith
With Steve Smith making himself available for IPL 2025, he is going to be one of the most important players under the hammer. Although he may not see a hefty price since it’s a mega auction and teams need to fit things under their purse limits, the chances are high that if players like Shreyas Iyer or Rahmanullah Gurbaz are not retained, teams will need to acquire quality batters. Smith’s quality needs no introduction, although his shorter-format attributes have been under scrutiny in the past. It will be interesting to see how things go for him in IPL 2025.
Cameron Green
Just like the situation with Pat Cummins and SRH, the same goes for Cameron Green and RCB. Will the Bengaluru franchise release this fiery all-rounder? Green has shown amazing consistency over the years, both with the bat and ball. Known for providing big runs in the middle overs and has the capability to take wickets. If RCB releases him, he will be the talk of the town. KKR, with players like Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, has players who provide similar attributes to Green. For this Australian player, joining KKR could be a valuable opportunity for learning, as Narine and Russell are playing their last few years of cricket. In comparison, Green is younger, has more to learn, and if he can capitalize on this opportunity, he could be a match-winner for the KKR camp.
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