Sun Nov 24 17:18:42 UTC 2024: ## Defending Champs KKR Head to IPL 2025 Mega Auction with Six Retained Players, But No Captain

**Jeddah, Saudi Arabia** – Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the reigning Indian Premier League champions, will enter the IPL 2025 mega auction with a significantly altered roster. Despite retaining six key players – Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh – the team has parted ways with captain Shreyas Iyer.

The auction, taking place this weekend in Jeddah, presents a major challenge for KKR. With a remaining purse of Rs 51 crore and no Right to Match (RTM) cards, the team’s management will need to make strategic choices to fill the gaps in their squad. A crucial priority will be finding a new captain, with the possibility of reacquiring Iyer remaining open.

Other needs include a new opening partner for Sunil Narine and a solid middle-order batsman to support the powerful hitting of Rinku Singh and Andre Russell. While the spin bowling department is well-stocked, KKR will also be seeking quality fast bowlers to bolster their attack. The team has 19 slots available (6 for overseas players) to fill before the start of the next IPL season. The KKR think tank, including CEO Venky Mysore and mentor DJ Bravo, are reportedly strategizing to build a team capable of defending their title.

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