Kolkata Knight Riders are the defending IPL champions having won the 2024 edition.
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), winners of IPL 2024, will see themselves in a rebuilding phase. The three-time IPL champions are reportedly going to retain West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell as their first retention ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, surprisingly over captain Shreyas Iyer.
With the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar, and Ryan ten Doeschate taking up roles with the Indian Cricket Team, KKR will look for new coaches and support staff as well ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.
As per the Times of India report, West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell will most likely be the first pick for the KKR franchise. He will be getting a 50% pay raise with top retention worth INR 18 crores.
Russell was an important part of KKR's title-winning campaign in 2023, scoring 225 runs with the bat at a blistering strike rate of 185. He was also handy with the ball, taking 19 wickets to become the joint-second-highest wicket-taking bowler, sharing the spot with teammate Harshit Rana.
The West Indies all-rounder has elevated his game to a new level, making him a threat with both bat and ball. Also, given his long relationship with the franchise, it is reasonable to award the star all-rounder with the highest salary.
Furthermore, the report stated that KKR is interested in retaining skipper Shreyas Iyer as well, but not as a top pick.
With franchises like Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru possibly in the hunt for a new captain, Shreyas Iyer might see himself entering the IPL 2025 mega auction to get the best price possible.
KKR also has a lot more quality in their squad, thus Iyer may not be the top choice for retention. Mitchell Starc, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana, among others, could be viable retention choices if the company goes down this route.
With deadline day approaching, teams will be eager to retain their finest players and enhance their squads to ensure that KKR wins their second title in a row.
Franchises must announce their retentions by October 31, and it will be intriguing to see who the three-time title-winning team keeps in the lineup.