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
–
BAN
–
BUL
217/6
GBT
222/4
Gibraltar beat Bulgaria by 6 wickets
BUL
–
TRK
–
GBT
–
TRK
–
GBT
–
BUL
–
BRBA
160/8
HAST
159/5
Brussels Bashers beat Hasselt Titans by 2 wickets
LEUL
110/8
OSTG
58/4
LEST
–
BRBA
–
ATPG
–
HAST
–
GENW
–
LEUL
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
NVR
155/7
NAJC
177/7
Nabajyoti Club won by 22 runs
GTC
20/1
CCC
134/9
91YC
–
CCC
–
BCC
–
NAJC
–
CD
–
DC
–
GAW
–
RR
–
DC
–
HH
–
GAW
–
CD
–
JER
–
SCOT
–
NED
–
ITA
–
ENG
–
IND
–
NWW
–
MUR
44/0
LLG
–
NK
–
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
–
OAW
163/3
VMK
–
KAK
–
OAW
–
YAR
–
MMS
–
RWT
–
BHN
115/3
TAN
154/7
ML
–
GER
–
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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