KKR won their third IPL title under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer in the last concluded edition.
IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were proud winners of the last Indian Premier League (IPL) edition. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2024, KKR put up a dominating show of display to lift the title. Coming to the IPL 2025, KKR have managed to gather a strong squad, but is it enough to retain their IPL title? In this article, we will discuss some points that might hamper KKR’s chance of retaining their IPL title.
Confusion in captaincy options
As stated above, KKR was led by Shreyas Iyer in IPL 2024, but he has now left the camp. In the mega auction of IPL, KKR purchased veteran Ajinkya Rahane, who is likely to lead the squad. Apart from Ajinkya Rahane, KKR also has options including Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, or Sunil Narine. Still, it has not been confirmed who will lead KKR in IPL 2025. This non-clarity for the captaincy role might hamper KKR’s chances of winning the IPL 2025.
Omission of Iyer, Starc & Salt
The likes of Mitchell Starc, Philip Salt, and Shreyas Iyer played a very crucial role in KKR’s victory in the IPL 2025. While Salt scored 435 runs at a brutal strike rate of 182 in 12 games, Starc showed his true prowess with the ball during the playoff stages, including the final match. Shreyas Iyer was also among the runs apart from leading the men in purple and gold on the field. However, these three players have now joined different teams, and their void will certainly be felt by KKR in IPL 2025.
Pace bowling a concern
KKR faces significant challenges in its pace bowling unit. The team lacks a consistent overseas pacer following Anrich Nortje’s decline in form last season, where he struggled with an economy rate exceeding 13 runs per over. Additionally, Spencer Johnson’s previous performance raises concerns about his effectiveness as a reliable option. This vulnerability in pace bowling could be exploited by opposing teams, especially on pitches favoring fast bowlers.
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