The IPL 2024 champions are all set to return and will look to replicate the success in 2025 season as well. From batting to bowling, KKR excelled in every aspect and clinched the IPL 2024 trophy with ease. We witnessed Andre Russell taking on bowlers and Sunil Narine once again becoming the MVP for the team. Many things went right for them last time. However, this time, they made several changes ahead of IPL 2025.
In the mega auction, they secured some big players set to represent the KKR camp while also retaining key names like Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Sunil Narine before the auction. After finalizing their squad, many believe the team looks perfect for the upcoming IPL. However, a few still think there are some areas that need improvement. Check out three loopholes KKR has ahead of IPL 2025.
Leadership Crisis
Currently in the news, and deservedly so, is the lack of skipper options for KKR ahead of IPL 2025. Before the auction, they released IPL champion captain Shreyas Iyer. This time, they certainly have some good options, such as Ajinkya Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer, but many believe it is going to create a challenge.
They might have missed the trick of securing a consistent, high-quality captain. Rahane has been wonderful for India in Tests, especially in the past, where he also led the team and did remarkably well. However, captaining KKR, who are the IPL 2024 champions, will not be an easy task. It will be interesting to see how things unfold for them in the upcoming IPL as far as solving the captaincy conundrum is concerned.
Excessive trust in foreign wicketkeepers
Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, KKR, have created strong options when it comes to foreign wicketkeepers. However, this may lead to a tricky situation in the playing XI, as a maximum of four foreign players are allowed. This could pose a challenge for KKR, as if they opt for Quinton de Kock, likely due to his experience, it will be difficult to make room for Gurbaz. Overall, this may create a whom to use and whom not to confusion. If KKR had an Indian wicketkeeper option, it would have simplified things and made the situation easier for them.
Inexperienced Pace bowling lineup
From Umran Malik to Vaibhav Arora to Harshit Rana, all the young names are in the camp, slowly and steadily making their mark. However, they don’t have enough fast bowlers who have already made their mark. Last time, they had Mitchell Starc, but the camp released him ahead of IPL 2025, and we saw how, in IPL 2024, particularly during the knockout stages, he performed exceptionally well. This time, it may create an issue for KKR as they don’t have big names to rely on when it comes to fast bowling.
Yes, they have Proteas pacer Anrich Nortje, but whether he will be able to deliver remains uncertain, especially since his last IPL season didn’t end well. Playing for a new team might change things, but currently, KKR’s pace attack is under pressure.
