With the upcoming 2025 IPL Mega Auction having a scope of a probable seven retention positions available for each team, the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, would be eager to utilize this new rule of the tournament's mega auctions. The Kolkata Knight Riders have had a fantastic IPL 2024 season. They broke their 10-year trophy drought by winning their third IPL championship under Shreyas Iyer's leadership and Gautam Gambhir's tutelage. 

Now that their mentor has taken over as India's Head Coach and the colossal auction is approaching, the Knight Riders will attempt to establish a new set of players while keeping their core intact. Here are three players for whom KKR may stay ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction through retention modes.

Shreyas Iyer

The Kolkata Knight Riders hope to retain their skipper, Shreyas Iyer, who led them to the IPL title after ten years. Iyer is well-versed in dressing room culture and has successfully led teams. Aside from being an effective leader, Iyer is also a valuable middle-order hitter who can add stability to a batting lineup that will likely include a few new faces.

Iyer will be an excellent choice for the Knight Riders as they create a roster around him. In addition to his impressive 351 runs in 14 matches stint, he has helped the club finish first in the group stages, winning nine of the fourteen games they played, making him the potential jack of batting and captaincy. 

Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine's path with the Kolkata Knight Riders has been spectacular, from a player with enormous promise, particularly in the T20 format, to a cricket legend. Whenever detractors dismissed him as a player, the KKR management pulled out something fresh in him.

The Knights have always supported him, even during his most difficult moments, and after what he has done in IPL 2024 with both the bat and the ball, they will undoubtedly keep the Trinidadian icon. Following a spectacular all-round performance in the 2024 edition, he has 17 wickets and 488 runs, including three half-centuries and his maiden T20I century. 

Also Read: ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024: India among top alternate hosts

Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy was one of the few bowlers to stand out in a season where bowlers were utterly at the mercy of the batting side. The 2024 IPL season saw teams score over 200 runs regularly, with several hitting totals of 250+. Chakravarthy finished the competition with the second-highest wickets.

Chakravarthy took 21 wickets for his side in 15 matches, allowing runs at slightly over 8 per over. His results in a batter-dominated event are outstanding, earning him a berth on the retention list. Furthermore, with players like Sunil Narine, the three-time IPL champions will have a fine time with their spin department in future seasons.