He has been one of their biggest match-winners and has been with them since 2014, but the auction dynamics seem to have forced KKR to make a tough decision.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a star-laced team during the last season, with each player capable of doing big things in their respective departments. Hence, they will find it hard to pin down their retention ahead of the IPL 2025 retention deadline.
According to a fresh report by ESPNcricinfo, KKR might release the West Indies all-rounder, Andre Russell. Russell has been one of their biggest match-winners and has been with them since 2014, but the auction dynamics seem to have forced KKR to make a tough decision.
While playing for KKR, Russell has 2426 runs at an average of 29.95 and a strike rate of 175.79 in 101 innings, including 11 fifties. Further, he also has 114 wickets at an average of 21.20 and a strike rate of 13.67 in 105 innings, comprising two four-wicket and a five-wicket haul.
He was retained by the franchise at INR 12 crores ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction and was the main reason behind their title-winning run in the 2024 edition, where he contributed with both bat and ball. He scored 222 runs at a whopping strike rate of 185 and took 19 wickets at 15.52 runs apiece while dismissing three batters in the final.
Meanwhile, the Knight Riders will release their title-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, and their ace pacer, Mitchell Starc. Iyer scored 351 runs at a strike rate of 146.86, including two fifties, and was also the leader of the winning side.
Also Read: Three IPL teams that will want Shreyas Iyer as captain for IPL 2025
Starc grabbed 17 wickets at an average of 26.11, with his best performances coming in playoffs, where he won the Player of the Match award in Qualifier 1 and Final. He is the most expensive player in the league, earning a massive INR 24.75 in the IPL 2024 auction.
The same report added that KKR will retain Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Rinku Singh as capped players while Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh as uncapped. This will leave them with one Right To Match (RTM) to use during the auction, with three main players to choose from.
If KKR retain five players, they will spend at least INR 51 crores and will be left with only INR 69 crores to use during the auction. However, KKR will have a strong core with quality options in the toughest departments, so filling other slots will be relatively easy.
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