Kolkata Knight Riders enter the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as defending champions, ready to defend their title with a squad that is well-balanced and filled with potential. After a blazing season last year, where they lifted the IPL trophy under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, the team now faces a new chapter with a significant change at the helm. KKR will be led by a new skipper in the upcoming edition of the tournament. Ajinkya Rahane has been appointed as their new captain, following the release of Iyer. KKR’s strength lies in their all-around balance.

In recent seasons, they have played high-quality game, challenging the well-established teams. In the batting department, players like Rinku Singh, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell offer explosive firepower at the top of the order. This year, they will be solidified by the availability of explosive batter Quinton de Kock, who possesses the ability to turn the things around. 

Meanwhile, Sunil Narine, Rovman Powell and Manish Pandey provide more versatile option in the middle order. On the bowling front, KKR have an impressive mix of pace and spin, led by Spencer Johnson, Luvnith Sisodia, Anukul Roy, Moeen Ali and Mayank Markande. The most notable change for KKR this season is the appointment of Ajinkya Rahane as the team’s new captain. Rahane brings with him a wealth of experience, both as a player and as a leader. Having captained the Indian team, his leadership pedigree is unquestionable. 

His calm demeanour and sharp thinking will be invaluable in high-pressure situations. As defending champions, KKR will face heightened expectations this season. Meanwhile, the team is loaded with talent, and under Rahane’s leadership, they have all the armoury for another successful campaign. On paper, KKR look well-positioned to make another deep run in the IPL and possibly lift the trophy once more. They will begin their campaign by facing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2025 opener on Saturday at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. 

KKR IPL 2025 squad: 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

Injury replacement: Umran Malik was replaced by Chetan Sakariya.