Predicting 6 players KKR could retain for IPL 2025 ft. Shreyas Iyer and Andre Russell

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a memorable Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign, which culminated in them being crowned champions for the third time. KKR had earlier won the IPL in 2012 and 2014 under Gautam Gambhir's leadership. On this occasion, Gambhir was the mentor of the franchise.

Kolkata dominated the league stage of IPL 2024 and finished on top of the points table, with 20 points from 14 matches. They won nine and lost three of their matches, while two games produced no result. KKR began the tournament with three consecutive wins. After losing two of their next three matches, they won five of their next six games and cruised into the playoffs.

Kolkata Knight Riders will be spoilt for choice about retentions for IPL 2025. However, they will have a tough task since they can retain only six players from the current squad, with a maximum of five capped players and two uncapped players.

On that note, here's predicting six cricketers Kolkata could retain for the 2025 season either directly or via the Right to Match (RTM) option.

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#1 Sunil Narine

Sunil Narine is a match-winner with bat and ball. (Image Credits: iplt20.com/ BCCI)

West Indies' spin bowling all-rounder Sunil Narine has been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise since 2012 and is KKR's all-time leading wicket-taker. In 186 matches, Narine has picked up 198 wickets at an average of 23.93 and an excellent economy rate of 6.65, with eight four-fers and one five-wicket haul.

The 36-year-old had a good season for Kolkata in 2024 as well. In 15 matches, he picked up 17 wickets at an average of 21.65 and an economy rate of 6.69. Not only with the ball, Narine made a significant contribution on the batting front as well. Opening the innings, he slammed 488 runs at a strike rate of 180.74, with one hundred and three fifties. His retention looks more or less a certainty.

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#2 Shreyas Iyer

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Shreyas Iyer (Image Credits: iplt20.com/ BCCI)

As KKR captain, Shreyas Iyer made a big impression as he marshaled his troops and guided them towards the IPL title. Coming as it did, in the wake of all the controversy surrounding his fitness and his axing from the Test team, the Mumbai cricketer looked determined to prove a point.

As a batter, Shreyas did not have an outstanding IPL 2024 but produced decent numbers. In 14 matches, he notched up 351 runs at an average of 39 and a strike rate of 146.86, with two fifties. KKR would expect better numbers from him with the willow. He should get a chance to do so in IPL 2025.

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#3 Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy has made a big impact with the ball. (Image Credits: iplt20.com/ BCCI)

Leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy has been excellent for Kolkata Knight Riders over the last few seasons. His performances earned him a T20I recall after a gap of three years and he announced his comeback with an impressive three-fer in the game against Bangladesh in Gwalior on Sunday.

Chakravarthy was one of the key factors behind KKR's triumph in the IPL 2024 season. The 33-year-old picked up an impressive haul of 21 scalps from 15 matches, averaging 19.14 at an economy rate of 8.04. Overall, he has picked up 82 wickets for Kolkata in 70 matches at and average of 23.98 and an economy rate of 7.51.

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#4 Andre Russell

Andre Russell (left) celebrates a wicket with Sunil Narine. (Image Credits: iplt20.com/ BCCI)

Veteran West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell is likely to be among the six players KKR can retain ahead of the 2025 season. The right-handed batter, who can hit the ball a long way, has proved his worth for the franchise over the years. Also, his skills as a medium pacer, particularly at the death, are underrated.

The 36-year-old played 15 matches for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2024, smashing 222 runs at a strike rate of 185. With the ball, he chipped in with 19 wickets at an average of 15.53. Overall, Russell is the second-leading wicket-taker for KKR. In 126 matches, he has picked up 116 scalps at an average of 21.74.

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#5 Rinku Singh

Rinku Singh could be retained despite an underwhelming IPL 2024. (Image Credits: iplt20.com/ BCCI)

Rinku Singh did not have a particularly fruitful IPL 2024 campaign for Kolkata. In 14 matches, he scored 168 runs at a strike rate of 148.67, with a best of 26. It would be a surprise though if KKR release Rinku, who is a complete team man.

The 26-year-old had an excellent campaign for Kolkata in IPL 2023, clobbering 474 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of nearly 150, with four half-centuries. He is fast gaining a reputation as one of the finest finishers in T20 cricket.

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#6 Vaibhav Arora (Uncapped)

Vaibhav Arora was an unsung hero for KKR in IPL 2024. (Image Credits: iplt20.com/ BCCI)

Kolkata Knight Riders would like to retain pacer Harshit Rana for IPL 2025. However, he has been picked for the T20Is against Bangladesh and there is a fair chance that he will make his debut in the series, meaning he will no longer be an uncapped player.

KKR could thus go for another right-arm pacer Vaibhav Arora as their uncapped retention. The 26-year-old was one of the team's unsung heroes during their IPL 2024 triumph. He picked up 11 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 25.09, with a best of 3-27.