As the IPL 2025 player retention deadline approaches, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders are finalising their core squad for the upcoming season.
After winning the title in 2024, thus ending a decade-long drought, KKR fans are eager to know which players will continue their journey with the team, and who might be released.
Here’s an in-depth look at KKR’s potential retentions and strategic moves ahead of the 2025 season.
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Who have KKR retained ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction?
Several players are likely to be retained to form the core of KKR's 2025 campaign:
Sunil Narine: Sunil Narine has been the face of the franchise, being a one-franchise cricketer since 2012. He has been to his absolute best in IPL 2024, after being promoted as an opener in the batting order. Scoring 488 runs and picking 17 wickets, Narine has earned himself the first retention spot ahead of the mega auction.
Rinku Singh: Rinku Singh has been one of KKR's finds, backed by the franchise, to make his way into the national team. Rinku has been associated with the defending champions, who handed him his IPL debut in 2018. Despite not being trusted with the duties much in IPL 2024 (168 runs), the owners would aim to keep him on their books ahead of the mega auction.
Check IPL 2025 teams' retentions: CSK | MI | KKR | PBKS | DC | SRH | RCB | RR | GT | LSG
Varun Chakravarthy: Varun Chakravarthy's meteoric leap to relevance in the past two seasons, could be rewarded by the KKR management ahead of the mega auction. Once being labelled as the 'mystery spinner', the 33-year-old has picked 41 wickets across IPL 2023 and 2024. Being a mainstay in their title-winning campaign, Chakravarthy could earn the 11 Crore bag ahead of IPL 2025.
Harshit Rana: Harshit Rana was one of the major reasons that KKR won the title in 2024. Despite being 23 years old, Rana delivered the season of his life, picking 19 wickets in just 13 matches, across last season. Having shown faith in him since 2022, the management would aim to keep him in Kolkata ahead of the upcoming mega auction. Moreover, despite recent call-ups, Rana not making his India debut could be a blessing in disguise for the defending champions. He remains eligible to be retained under the uncapped category.
Ramandeep Singh:
More: IPL 2025 Retention Deadline show: How to watch live in India?
What would be the retention cost for these players?
| Player | Role | Potential Retention Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Rinku Singh | Batsman | INR 13 crore |
| Sunil Narine | All-rounder | INR 12 crore |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Bowler | INR 12 crore |
| Andre Russell | All-rounder | INR 12 crore |
| Harshit Rana | Bowler (Uncapped) | INR 4 crore |
| Ramandeep Singh | Bowler (Uncapped) | INR 4 crore |
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With an estimated retention cost of INR 57 crores, KKR is expected to enter the IPL 2025 mega auction with around INR 63 crores in their purse, along with two Right to Match cards.
These RTMs offer KKR the flexibility to bid back players like Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt from the auction.
By building a core around Narine, Rinku, Russell, Chakravarthy, Ramandeep and Rana, KKR positions itself with a balanced squad and competitive budget, looking to defend their IPL title in 2025.
IPL 2025 mega auction: When and where? | Purse left for each team
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