KKR have their retention list for IPL 2025 almost sorted but they could make a last-minute decision about Shreyas Iyer.
As the retention deadline for IPL 2025 approaches on October 31, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) face a series of pivotal choices around player retention.
KKR, champions in the IPL previous season, are expected to retain at least five players to maintain their core from the previous title winning team. Almost every player stepped up with their A-game for the Knight Riders last season, and that’s why they are going to have a tough time retaining only five or six of them.
Ahead of the approaching IPL 2025 retention deadline, here are the major developments for KKR so far:
Andre Russell remains a cornerstone of their squad and is likely to be the highest-paid retention at INR 18 crore. Russell’s game-changing abilities with both bat and ball have been integral to KKR’s success, and his long-standing relationship with the franchise further cements his spot.
His retention ensures stability in the all-rounder slot, allowing KKR to focus their resources on other roles. Last season, Russell was seen in his peak bowling form as he picked up 19 wickets at an average of 15.53. He also amassed 222 runs on top of that, at an outstanding strike-rate of 185 once again.
A surprising development surrounds Shreyas Iyer, whose captaincy guided KKR to victory last season. Speculation has surfaced that KKR may part ways with Iyer, potentially due to budget constraints and the emergence of other middle-order options.
While KKR’s management had initially supported Iyer’s retention, recent reports suggest they might explore releasing him into the auction as there is a disagreement between them and Iyer with retention order. Apparently, Iyer wants to be the top retention and KKR do not want that with Russell set to be their top pick.
But things might change at the last minute. While Iyer looks likely to explore his options in the Auction at the moment, KKR still might end up striking a last-minute deal to keep their title-winning captain with them.
Veteran all-rounder Sunil Narine and explosive batsman Rinku Singh are near-certain retentions for KKR. Narine, known for his versatile spin, swashbuckling batting, and previous contributions to KKR’s title-winning campaigns, provides crucial depth to their lineup.
Narine played a pivotal role last season, picking up 17 wickets at a measly economy rate of 6.69. More than that, he was a surprise package as a batter as he went on to smash 488 runs, including a century and three fifties.
Meanwhile, Rinku Singh, whose powerful hitting has become a highlight in the last two seasons, strengthens KKR’s middle order and serves as a future core member. His statistics in the middle and death overs are very impressive and Rinku is also an integral part of the Indian T20I team right now. They can’t risk it by releasing him into the auction and that’s why his retention looks certain.
These two are expected to be retained at INR 14 crore and INR 11 crore, respectively, offering a strong base for KKR.
KKR are also looking at uncapped players Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh to fill their roster with younger, lower-cost options. They can retain the duo at a combined sum of INR 8 crores. KKR don’t need to think twice before retaining them as they are already around the Indian playing setup and are developing into real match-winners.
Rana went on to pick 19 wickets for KKR last season and bowled many crucial spells in the death overs. Ramandeep provided power hitting abilities down the order at No.7. He amassed 125 runs at a staggering strike-rate of 201.61 in IPL 2024. Ramandeep recently also made his name in the Emerging Asia Cup semi-final where he scored 64 0ff only 34 deliveries.
Also Read: 5 Big Names that could be Released on IPL 2025 Retention Deadline Day
Apart from them, Angkrish Raghuvanshi also stands an outside chance of getting retained as an uncapped player but that would mean letting either Harshit or Ramandeep go, which would decrease KKR’s chances of getting them back as almost every franchise would go after them. So, Harshit and Ramandeep are most likely to get retained.
Both uncapped players would allow KKR to strategically manage their retention costs at INR 4 crore each. These choices align with KKR’s goal of developing emerging talents while preserving the budget for marquee players.
A significant strategic shift could see KKR enter the auction without any Right to Match (RTM) cards. The new retention policy allows for a combination of six players through direct retention or RTMs, but early signs suggest KKR might forgo RTMs to focus solely on direct retentions.
This would only happen if KKR decide to retain Shreyas Iyer or any other capped Indian player on top of the players already mentioned above. Otherwise, they will have one RTM left to use in the auction.
KKR’s core lineup also includes other key players like Varun Chakravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, and Nitish Rana, each of whom have been valuable players for the franchise over the years.
Chakravarthy, a reliable spinner, and Venkatesh Iyer, a flexible all-rounder, have both contributed significantly in previous seasons. Chakravarthy was KKR’s highest wicket-taker last season with 21 wickets to his name at an average of 19.14. He also made a comeback into the Indian T20I team recently.
Venkatesh was KKR’s top retention in the last mega auction and he has been a vital part of KKR’s core since then. After a brief slump in form in IPL 2022 and 2023, he batted well last season and made 370 runs at an average of 46.25.
Nitish Rana’s batting consistency and leadership potential make him another candidate. However, KKR may have to release at least two from this group due to budget limitations, with Chakravarthy’s place seeming slightly more secure than the others due to his unique skill set.
However, if KKR decide to retain any one of these players, that will come at an additional cost of INR 18 crores and they won’t have any RTMs left also. There are high chances that they might get them back at a cheaper price in the auction. So, it looks like a wiser move to release them.
Looking ahead to the auction, KKR could focus on reacquiring international stars Phil Salt and Mitchell Starc. Salt, known for his aggressive batting, complements KKR’s batting strategy, while Starc brings world-class pace to the attack.
Both players would add immense value, but budget constraints may pose challenges. KKR’s willingness to re-engage with these players during the auction will likely depend on the success of their retention strategy and the remaining funds.
Dwayne Bravo’s appointment as team mentor adds an experienced voice to KKR’s backroom. Known for his familiarity with T20 leagues, Bravo’s mentorship could shape KKR’s final decisions, particularly in optimizing player combinations and fostering younger talents.
It remains to be seen how KKR optimize their retention and auction strategy under Bravo after a period of success under Gautam Gambhir. For now, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh look like near-certain retentions for KKR. All eyes are going to be on their decision on Shreyas Iyer, which would only become clearer once the IPL 2025 retention deadline day comes closer.
(Prasenjiit Dey has been working as a sports journalist for about a decade. You can follow him on X and instagram.)
