IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders full squad, preview, SWOT analysis, likely XI

The three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will play in IPL 2025 as the defending champions who won the IPL 2024 title after thrashing the dangerous SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final of the tournament. 

To retain the maximum six players, including four capped and two uncapped, the KKR officially spent INR 69 crore, despite their retention value being INR 57 crore. It meant that the reigning champions could use INR 51 crore in the mega auction. 

Kolkata Knight Riders: Key additions from the mega auction

The mega auction clarified that the KKR weren’t happy with the six-player retention rule, as the defending champions showed their desperation for Venkatesh Iyer and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, even if it crossed 10x of the base price. The Kolkata-based franchise also added their familiar face Manish Pandey, who strongly served for the KKR between 2014 and 2017 before returning to the franchise for the 2024 season.

To make the team stronger, KKR added big names like Anrich Nortje, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Moeen Ali, Spencer Johnson, Rovman Powell, etc.  

SEE ALSO: KKR go all out for their old knight Venkatesh Iyer

KKR Full Squad

Batters: Rinku Singh (retained), Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi

Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock (South African), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghan), Luvnith Sisodia

All-rounders: Sunil Narine (Trinidadian/retained), Andre Russell (Jamaican/retained), Ramandeep Singh (retained), Moeen Ali (English), Rovman Powell (Jamaican), Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy 

Spinners: Varun Chakravarthy (retained), Mayank Markande

Pacers: Harshit Rana (retained), Anrich Nortje (South African), Spencer Johnson (Australian), Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora

Brief SWOT analysis

The reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders had a great IPL 2025 mega auction. The franchise has strong trust in its old players. Moreover, they have added some strong names to the squad.

KKR have strong names in batting and bowling. While most foreign names have good alternatives, Indian batters have strong experiences. The all-rounders are really strong for the KKR, as most are match-winners. Spin and pace bowling options are also strong, but the Indian pace bowling lineup is inexperienced. 

KKR Best possible XI for IPL 2025

Sunil Narine/Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock/Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Manish Pandey, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje, Varun Chakaravarthy