The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), have a squad they would have preferred to retain entirely. From their captain, Shreyas Iyer, to Rinku Singh, they would ideally like to keep the majority of their players. Ironically, KKR was the franchise that released the most players, revamping their team in preparation for the IPL 2025 mega auction to build a new title-winning squad.
3 players KKR can target via RTM in IPL 2025 mega auction
Andre Russell
Andre Russell is a prime candidate for KKR’s RTM (Right to Match) retention in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Having been a key player for the team since 2018, KKR will be eager to retain their star all-rounder. However, with a price tag of Rs. 16 crore and Russell turning 37 by the next season, retaining him at such a high cost may not be practical. Utilizing the RTM card would allow KKR to secure Russell’s services at a potentially lower price, making it a smarter strategy to keep him in the squad.
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc was the most expensive player in the IPL 2024 auction, fetching Rs. 24.75 crore. KKR, however, will likely not consider retaining Starc for the upcoming season. Nevertheless, since he is still one of the best bowlers in the game, they may contemplate acquiring him back in the auction using the RTM card at a lower price.
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Nitish Rana
Former captain Nitish Rana is unlikely to be retained before the IPL auction. He had a decent performance in IPL 2024, scoring 413 runs at an average of 31.77. KKR acquired him for Rs. 8 crore, but they might want to bring him back at a lower price in the IPL 2025 auction. Rana’s price tag will ultimately be determined by the bids from other franchises.
