New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 champions Kolkata Knight Riders will be one of the teams to watch out for at the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction. KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan was one of the leading voices demanding for the number of retentions to be increased significantly during a meeting between the BCCI officials and IPL owners a couple of months ago where rules for the mega action were discussed.
The BCCI is yet to release the rules and regulations for the IPL 2025 mega auction and the number of retentions that will be allowed for each team. However, the franchises have already started formulating their strategies ahead of the auction. KKR have reportedly finalised a list of five players that they want to retain ahead of IPL 2025.
Iyer, Rinku, Russell and Narine among 5 players on KKR’s retention list
As per a report in Bengali daily Anandbazar Patrika, KKR will retain their skipper Shreyas Iyer along with star batters Phil Salt, Rinku Singh and all-rounders Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. Russell and Narine have been two of the strongest pillars of KKR for several years now and were also retained by the franchise ahead of the last mega auction in 2022.
There were reports that Iyer might be involved in a swap deal for Suryakumar Yadav with Mumbai Indians. However, as per the report, KKR will not let go of their IPL 2024-winning captain despite him losing his place in India’s T20I squad. KKR are also set to show faith in Rinku and keep him despite him failing to replicate his IPL 2023 heroics in IPL 2024 this year.
KKR will also reportedly keep hold of England wicket-keeper and opener Phil Salt, who played an instrumental role in helping them win the title this year with explosive starts at the top. Salt hammered 435 runs in 12 matches for KKR at a strike rate of over 180 to power them into the final. KKR defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final without Salt to win the IPL 2024 trophy.
Venkatesh Iyer to be released by KKR
The report further claims that Kolkata Knight Riders might release Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer. Iyer, who joined KKR at his base price of Rs 20 lakh in IPL 2021, was retained by the franchise for Rs 8 crore after his impressive performances. Iyer has so far played 50 matches for KKR in his IPL career and has 1326 runs to his name at a strike rate of 137.13. Iyer, who is a handy bowler, has also picked up 11 wickets for his team.
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