Here's the SWOT analysis of Kolkata Knight Riders for the Indian Premier League 2025 -- preview, prediction, and squad
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are gearing up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, and as defending champions, they are ready to fight for another title. With a well-balanced squad and a solid core unit, they have the firepower to go all the way again. (More Cricket News)
KKR have tasted IPL glory three times, 2012, 2014, and 2024, and now they are eyeing their fourth title in the 2025 season. As defending champions, KKR have retained a strong core, keeping six key players ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, providing a clear glimpse of their preferred playing XI.
At the auction, KKR focused on continuity, bringing back most of their squad while letting go of only 4-5 key names. The team remains largely settled, with the owners opting for stability over drastic changes, trusting the formula that led them to success in 2024.
KKR were unable to reclaim their captain Shreyas Iyer, star pacer Mitchell Starc, and opener Phil Salt, despite making bids for all three at the auction.
Additionally, they chose not to pursue Nitish Rana, a long-serving member of the franchise, signaling a shift in their squad strategy for the 2025 season.
KKR head into IPL 2025 with one of the most well-rounded squads, combining experienced match-winners with emerging talent. Their batting unit boasts serious firepower, featuring Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Ramandeep Singh, and Andre Russell, all capable of taking the game away from the opposition in no time.
On the bowling front, KKR have assembled a strong attack led by Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy, giving them the perfect mix of pace and spin. With a settled core and match-winners across departments, they have all the ingredients to mount a strong title defense.
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Rinku Singh, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Mayank Markande, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali, Umran Malik.
Injured players: Umran Malik.
Check the full list of skippers and coaches ahead of IPL 2025 HERE.
Kolkata Knight Riders will start their 2025 season by taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the tournament opener at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, as the 10-team tournament returns for its 18th season.