Kolkata Knight Riders are likely to retain captain Shreyas Iyer and star all-rounder Andre Russell ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. The deadline to announce the list of retained players is October 31.
While Russell has been retained as the highest paid player, Iyer’s retention is yet to be confirmed as he could be removed from the captaincy role.
Both Shreyas Iyer and Andre Russell are two key players for KKR and played a major role in the team’s title win last season. Although KKR would like to retain both, it remains to be seen if they manage to do so.
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Will Shreyas Iyer be sacked as KKR captain?
Shreyas Iyer is understood to be retained, though not at the highest price tag. Iyer joined KKR for INR 12.25 crore in the IPL 2022 auction.
According to reports, there is no confirmation of Iyer leading KKR in the upcoming season as he could be removed from the captaincy and join another franchise after entering the mega auction.
If Shreyas Iyer chooses to enter the mega auction, it is likely that a large number of franchises will be looking for a captain for years to come. An Indian captain is always in high demand and Iyer fits the criteria.
Teams like Punjab Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Delhi Capitals are looking for the captain and they could raise a high bid for Iyer which could fetch them good money.
Shreyas Iyer also has a good record as a captain in the Indian Premier League. Under his captaincy, Delhi Capitals finished runners-up in IPL 2020. Last season, he led Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title.
So his leadership credentials can earn him big money. Apart from being a captain, Iyer is also a skilled middle-order batsman and a game-changer at the middle order.
KKR are likely to retain Andre Russell at the highest price tag
Meanwhile, Andre Russell is one of the best all-rounders in IPL history. According to TOI, he is the frontrunner to be retained with a hefty price tag. Russell was retained by the franchise for INR 12 crore in the IPL 2022 auction. He is expected to increase his salary this time.
Andre Russell has been associated with Kolkata Knight Riders since 2014 and has been involved in two of the franchise’s three IPL titles. He played an important role in Kolkata winning the title in IPL 2024.
The all-rounder scored 222 runs with the bat in 9 innings at an average of 31.71 and a strike rate of 185. He also had great time on the ball and finished the season as his team’s top scorer with 19 saves in 15 minutes. the average is 15.52.
New IPL rental rules
Under the new IPL rules, a franchise can retain a maximum of six players, one of whom must be an opener. A team can select a maximum of two players from the squad.
