LIVE UPDATES | KKR Retention, IPL 2025: Will Shreyas Iyer Return As Skipper?

The Kolkata Knight Riders have a number of choices for the IPL 2025 captaincy because Shreyas Iyer may be leaving. A notable option might be Rinku Singh, who is well-known for his potent middle-order batting and growing fan base.

The seasoned Caribbean all-rounder Sunil Narine, who has captained in other leagues, also contributes leadership experience. Another candidate who has the backing of some KKR management is Nitish Rana, who oversaw the team in 2023 while Iyer was away. 
 

CSK - Ruturaj, Jadeja, Dube, Pathirana, Dhoni

SRH - Klassen, Cummins, Abhishek, Nitish, Head

LSG - Pooran, Bishnoi, Mayank, Badoni, Mohsin

KKR - Narine, Rinku, Varun, Harshit

RR - Sanju, Jaiswal, Parag, Sandeep

GT - Gill, Rashid, Sai, Tewatia, Shahrukh

DC - Axar, Kuldeep, Stubbs, Abhishek Porel

A number of IPL teams are reportedly interested in hiring Shreyas Iyer as captain in light of his reported departure from KKR.

Leading contenders Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings, and Lucknow Super Giants see Iyer as a capable leader who can meet their captaincy requirements. There will likely be intense competition for Iyer at the auction if KKR doesn't use their Right to Match card, which could be his next stop. 
 

For the 2025 Indian Premier League, the franchise's auction proceeds have been set at Rs 120 crore. Match fees, incremental performance pay, and the auction purse will now make up the entire salary cap.

After Mitchell Starc, there are chances that Andre Russell, one of KKR's mainstays, could also be out of the team.

“It may come down to either Phil Salt or Harshit Rana for the auction, which will be a tough decision for KKR. I foresee extended discussions in the meetings, as it might be hard to reach a consensus. But having this kind of ‘problem’—deciding among strong options—is a good challenge. No matter the choice, KKR will end up with a solid squad,” says Patel.

The IPL franchise is free to select their own combination for RTMs and retentions. A maximum of two uncapped players and five capped players (from India and overseas) may be included in the six retentions/RTMs.

Six players in all may be kept by the IPL team from their current roster. Either retention or the Right To Match (RTM) option may be used to achieve this.

“For KKR, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are key, as they remain active in multiple global leagues, not just for KKR. Then there’s Rinku Singh, who adds remarkable stability and has even started bowling occasionally. If they use the RTM, Varun Chakravarthy is an excellent candidate, given his solid performance last season. I think Starc might go to the auctions and in comparison to last year, he might not be able to go for that much of money. I’d also mention Harshit Rana, who’s done well for KKR and could be retained with the RTM if they choose to hold onto a promising Indian pace option.”

Saba Karim

IPL Title -winning Skipper Shreyas Iyer is an unlikely pick, and he may not be in the plans of the Kolkata Knight Riders.

As per ESPNcricinfo, the KKR management is unlikely to retain Mitchell Starc, whom they brought in for a record price in the preceding IPL Auction.

The reigning IPL champions will have a hard time while retaining their players after they formed a dominant side who can go toe-to-toe against any formidable side.

The IPL Retention Deadline is set at 05:00 PM IST on October 31st, 2024. All the IPL teams will be proving their list of retained players today evening.