Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) marked the return of Gautam Gambhir as a mentor in the IPL 2024 auction, securing a total of 10 players for a collective sum of ₹31.35 crore in a high-energy bidding process.The auction commenced with KKR’s bid for West Indies’ Rovman Powell; however, losing the bid to Rajasthan Royals momentarily quieted Venky Mysore and Gambhir in subsequent rounds.

Despite the initial setback, KKR strategically addressed their need for a reliable Indian wicketkeeper by securing KS Bharat for his base price of ₹50 lakh, emphasizing the urgency of this crucial position.Recognizing the significance of bolstering their fast-bowling arsenal, KKR added left-arm seamer Chetan Sakariya to their roster for ₹50 lakh, tapping into his potential after a hiatus due to injury.

The highlight of KKR’s spending spree was the monumental acquisition of Australian seamer Mitchell Starc, securing his services for a staggering ₹24.75 crore—the highest-ever spent on a player in IPL history. The intense bidding war involved Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals before Gujarat Titans briefly entered the fray, eventually leading to KKR’s triumphant bid.

Continuing their strategic picks, KKR signed 18-year-old top-order batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi and 26-year-old batter Ramandeep Singh at their base prices of ₹20 lakh each, fortifying their batting lineup.Adding depth to their squad, KKR secured West Indies international Sherfane Rutherford for his base price of ₹1.5 crore, a move applauded for providing a valuable middle-order option and left-arm pace, complementing Andre Russell.

See Also:Gujarat Titans IPL 2024 Squad-Full Player List, Auction Purchases, Remaining Purse

With a limited purse remaining, KKR made further base-price signings during the accelerated part of the auction, bringing back former player Manish Pandey for ₹50 lakh, acquiring Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman for ₹2 crore, England speedster Gus Atiknson for ₹1 crore, and 19-year-old batter Shakib Hussain for ₹20 lakh.

In summary, KKR’s aggressive yet strategic approach in the auction aimed at addressing key positions and acquiring a balanced squad for the upcoming IPL season.

KKR Retained Players:

Newly Added Players to KKR Team 2024:

Squad Strength – 23 (Indian-15, Overseas-8)

Purse Remaining – INR – 1.35 crore