KKR finished eighth in the IPL 2025 points table.
Entering as the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had an underwhelming performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The Knight Riders finished eighth in the points table. Their struggles were mainly in the batting department. KKR had the second-worst strike rate (143.29) in the season after Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) 139.04. The team struck the fewest boundaries among all teams. Such a poor performance with the willow may lead KKR to rethink their combination ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction. It could include the departures of Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh.
Let’s look at why this Indian duo is most likely to be released by KKR.
HKG
162/7
SAM
159/4
SGP
144/7
MAL
209/7
Malaysia beat Singapore by 65 runs
SAM
–
MAL
–
SGP
–
HKG
–
WI
172/8
AUS
173/2
Australia won by 8 wkts
ML
115/4
RWA
111/10
Malawi won by 6 wickets
BHN
176/4
ML
131/10
Bahrain beat Malawi by 45 runs
ALZ
118/7
HDN
114/5
Alby Zalmi beat Huddinge by 3 wickets
JIHCC
122/6
MAR
149/8
Marsta CC beat Jinnah CC by 27 runs
HDN
137/4
ALZ
117/4
Huddinge beat Alby Zalmi CC by 20 runs
HDN
165/3
JIHCC
162/4
Huddinge beat Jinnah CC by 7 wickets
MAR
137/6
ALZ
166/4
Alby Zalmi CC beat Marsta CC by 29 runs
JIHCC
–
MAR
–
RPH
–
HDN
–
HDN
–
JIHCC
–
RPH
–
MAR
–
JIHCC
–
RPH
–
BCC
148/7
NAJC
145/7
Bud Cricket Club beat Nabajyoti Club by 3 wickets
GTC
139/8
91YC
162/9
91 Yards Club beat Gauhati Town Club by 23 runs
BCC
–
91YC
–
EWW-W
77/9
MZW-W
165/3
Mozambique Women won by 88 runs
MWW-W
162/5
LSN-W
56/10
Malawi Women beat Lesotho Women by 106 runs
BOT-W
89/4
SLO-W
90/5
Sierra Leone Women beat Botswana Women by 5 wickets
RWA-W
22/0
CW-W
20/10
Rwanda Women beat Cameroon Women by 10 wickets
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
TBC
–
ENG
–
IND
140/2
MECS
–
CHK
–
BNC
–
TCC
–
STCC
–
CEC-A
–
CBS
–
FLI
–
Match Abandoned
VEV
–
GCF
–
CAT
–
VEV
–
Match cancelled
BAN
–
PAK
–
UAE
101/3
KNY
98/10
United Arab Emirates beat Kenya by 7 wickets
UGAA
127/8
NBA
124/7
Uganda A beat Namibia A by 3 runs
VMK
–
YAR
–
RWT
–
MMS
–
ASS
–
SGT
–
BDS
–
BAD
–
DUR-W
–
LAN-W
–
AAC
–
WIC
142/8
EDC
–
SAC
–
ZIM
–
NZ
–
IRE-W
180/4
ZIM-W
49/2
Rinku Singh has been a designated finisher for KKR since his debut in 2018. However, his breakthrough season came in 2023, when he smashed 474 runs in 14 innings at an average of 59.25. The southpaw made headlines for hitting five sixes in the final over against the Gujarat Titans (GT). However, his form and impact have taken a significant dip ever since. In IPL 2025, the 27-year-old managed just 206 runs in 13 matches, averaging 29.42, with a best score of 38. While his strike rate has improved marginally, Rinku has failed to live up to expectations. His poor run is not limited to IPL. Striking at 121.87, Rinku scored just 39 runs in two T20Is against England earlier this year.
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The expectations were high for Ramandeep Singh, especially after a decent season in IPL 2024. While he got limited opportunities to bat, the all-rounder didn’t bowl in the IPL 2025. The right-hand batter managed 47 runs across seven innings, averaging 9.40 and a strike rate of 134.28. His dismal campaign, combined with KKR’s overall batters’ struggles, points to a possible reset. However, he left his mark with spectacular fielding. He took three catches against Punjab Kings, when the Shreyas Iyer-led side defended the lowest team total in IPL history.
As several Indian players rise from the ranks, and some experienced finishers are likely to enter the auction, the three-time champions might look to rebuild their lower order. Power-hitters like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Glenn Phillips, and Indian youngsters like Swastik Chikara and Shahrukh Khan might be released by their respective franchises. This allows KKR a great opportunity to bolster their lower-order to rope in a proven finisher.
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Hong Kong beat Samoa by 3 wickets