He scored 354 runs at an average of 35.40 and a 152.58 strike rate in 13 innings.
After a disappointing IPL 2025, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have begun preparing for the next season and are seeking a quality wicketkeeper-batter, a position where they were severely weak. Earlier, a few reports suggested that they were looking to trade in Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals (RR), but they failed to strike a deal.
MAL-W
–
ASM-W
–
INA
172/5
PHL
176/1
Philippines won by 9 wickets
PHL
246/7
SK
134/9
Philippines beat South Korea by 112 runs
SL
159/3
BAN
154/5
Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh by 7 wickets
BUL
217/6
GBT
222/4
Gibraltar beat Bulgaria by 6 wickets
BUL
200/2
TRK
195/8
Bulgaria beat Turkey by 8 wickets
GBT
–
TRK
–
GBT
–
BUL
–
BRBA
160/8
HAST
159/5
Brussels Bashers beat Hasselt Titans by 2 wickets
LEUL
110/8
OSTG
115/5
Ostend Tigers beat Leuven Lions by 5 wickets
LEST
99/8
BRBA
157/4
Brussels Bashers beat Liege Stallions by 58 runs
ATPG
97/9
HAST
165/5
Hasselt Titans beat Antwerp Giants by 68 runs
GENW
82/1
LEUL
182/3
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
NVR
155/7
NAJC
177/7
Nabajyoti Club won by 22 runs
GTC
135/3
CCC
134/9
Gauhati Town Club beat City Cricket Club by 7 wickets
91YC
–
CCC
–
BCC
–
NAJC
–
CD
30/0
DC
165/7
GAW
–
RR
–
DC
–
HH
–
GAW
–
CD
–
JER
–
SCOT
–
NED
–
ITA
–
ENG
251/4
IND
–
Day
NWW
88/10
MUR
188/7
Munster Reds beat North West Warriors by 100 runs
LLG
–
NK
187/9
BNC
–
CHK
–
TCC
–
CEC-A
–
FEK
–
KRMPS
–
GUJCC
–
ALECC
–
MB
–
THUO
–
SFU
131/10
MINY
132/8
MI New York beat San Francisco Unicorns by 2 wickets
TSKS
–
MINY
–
MMS
143/10
OAW
215/7
Ossudu Accord Warriors beat Mahe Megalo Strikers by 72 runs
VMK
153/5
KAK
152/4
Villianur Mohit Kings beat Karaikal Kniights by 5 wickets
OAW
–
YAR
–
MMS
–
RWT
–
BHN
157/4
TAN
154/7
Bahrain beat Tanzania by 6 wickets
ML
166/8
GER
158/10
Malawi beat Germany by 8 runs
LEI
–
NOR
–
DER
–
WOR
–
HAM
–
GLAM
–
MID
–
GLO
–
WOR
–
BB
–
KENT
–
SOM
–
SURR
–
GLAM
–
NOT
–
DURH
–
NOR
–
DER
–
ESS
–
SUSS
–
LAN
–
YOR
–
TBLZ-W
–
SUR-W
–
SOM-W
–
BRB-W
–
DUR-W
–
HAM-W
–
Now, the reports are emerging that KKR are looking to include Ishan Kishan, who is currently with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). An X (formerly Twitter) account named RCBXTRA, which often shares inside information, confirmed the development via a post, and there might be some truth to this report.
Last season, KKR had Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, but both couldn’t make a consistent impact throughout the season. Among the Indian players, Luvnith Sisodia was available but didn’t get any game time at any stage of the edition.
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KKR are likely to release both overseas wicketkeeper-batters to free some budget ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, and they would desperately want to fill this department with quality Indian options. That will allow them to cover other important slots with overseas players and make them a well-rounded team.
Sunrisers Hyderabad bought Ishan Kishan for INR 11.25 crores in the IPL 2025 auction, but he couldn’t perform as consistently as he and the team would have liked. He started the season with a marvellous century and ended with another quality knock in the penultimate game, but was quiet in the middle phase.
Overall, he scored 354 runs at an average of 35.40 and a 152.58 strike rate in 13 innings, including one fifty and a century. Given that his returns weren’t as regular and SRH spent a massive sum on him, they can let him go and free some budget.
Kishan was, anyway, batting out of position in SRH’s batting unit, and they have Heinrich Klaasen as a primary wicketkeeper-batter in the squad. If they release Kishan, SRH can get one of the domestic players in this department as a backup, and the Indian options are aplenty.
Meanwhile, KKR will get an opener who can keep wickets and can be in the leadership group – everything the franchise needs at the moment. It’s a win-win situation for both parties, but it will be interesting to see whether SRH decide to let him go or give him more opportunities.
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