Few reports are currently heating up the IPL retention market, and now the release of Andre Russell from the KKR camp is all over. Russell, who became an asset for KKR since he joined, also excelled with both bat and ball last season and was undoubtedly a key reason behind KKR’s success in IPL 2024.
But now just before IPL retention day, ESPNcricinfo reported that KKR might release Russell, leaving fans in shock at this surprise move. And If he doesn’t return to the team, since there is usually no trade option available around the mega auction, the only way for him to join an IPL team would be through the auction, which isn’t far away. There’s a real chance he may not return to the Kolkata camp. So, which teams could go for this big all-rounder? See three teams that could bid for this lethal all-rounder in the IPL 2025 mega auction
Teams that may target Andre Russell at IPL 2025 auction
Mumbai Indians
First Kieron Pollard in the past, and now we can see Mumbai could go for Andre Russell. MI has a history of utilizing Caribbean power, as mentioned with Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith in the past, all these players have played exceptionally well for them. And if we look at the current scenario of MI, there are high chances they may release Tim David, who has been performing the role of a bowling all-rounder, as well as Romario Shepherd. If they don’t retain them, and since Russell is expected to go under the hammer, we may see MI bid for him. Five-time champions need a lower-order batting all-rounder, and since Russell’s bowling also garnered much attention. He could be the one who can do well for the Mumbai franchise.
Rajasthan Royals
RR needs some quality match winners. Yes, they do have Sanju Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who are playing their roles well, but they need more players who have a history of contributing in big matches. If we look at the last edition of IPL, we saw how RR lost their grip in the latter part of the tournament despite having a wonderful initial run. They need a quality all-rounder in the mix, especially in the No. 5 or No. 6 position. Rovman Powell also came in but was not able to make the kind of impact that was expected. We can see here that RR is showing interest in filling this vacant space, and to do this, they could go for this Caribbean superstar.
Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans, IPL 2022 winners, need some revamp when it comes to the lower order. We saw Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan did the job well for GT and are expected to do the same in the upcoming IPL. However, they cannot rely solely on them to deliver every time, they need more players who can take the team forward when the chips are down. Last season, whenever the Gujarat Titans got off to a good start, they failed to build on it, as not many aggressive batters made their mark. As a result, the team struggled to make big runs. With the reputation that Russell has as a big hitter, there is no question that he could play the role of the explosive batter that GT is looking for now. Russell is a better fit for this service.
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