The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), were impressive in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction, where they almost entirely restructured their squad in pursuit of the title. Armed with the largest purse among all franchises, Kolkata secured some of the most expensive players. As they prepare for the next edition, their focus will be on building a team capable of defending their championship, which may require releasing some of their star players to strike the right balance.
3 pkayers KKR may release in IPL 2025b
Mitchell Starc
Mitchell Starc, the most expensive player in IPL 2024, could be released by Kolkata Knight Riders due to his underwhelming performance despite his hefty price tag of Rs 24.75 crores. The team might opt to enter the IPL 2025 mega auction with a larger purse, which would require letting go of their costliest bowler, Starc.
Starc took 17 wickets in 14 games during IPL 2024 at an average of 26.12. While he showed improvement towards the end of the season, his overall contribution was still below expectations.
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Nitish Rana
Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Nitish Rana is also likely to be released by the team. His captaincy was handed over to Shreyas Iyer, who went on to lead KKR to the title in 2024. Additionally, Rana played only two matches in IPL 2024, scoring 42 runs. With KKR expected to continue with Shreyas Iyer as their captain next season, Rana’s journey with the team could come to an end.
Andre Russell
With a heavy heart, KKR might have to say goodbye to their legendary all-rounder if they can only retain four players. The team may face a choice between keeping Sunil Narine or Andre Russell, and in that case, they would likely opt to retain Narine due to his remarkable form in IPL 2024.
Russell was bought by KKR in 2014 for Rs 60 lakh, and since then, he has been an integral part of the team. He has won many matches single-handedly for Kolkata, establishing himself as a true match-winner.
