IPL 2025: Can Rahane help KKR defend their title?
What's the story
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the reigning champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), are all set for the 2025 season with a new leadership structure.
Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has taken over as captain, replacing Shreyas Iyer who now leads Punjab Kings.
Rahane's wealth of experience and calmness are expected to provide stability to the team as they target their fourth title.
Here we decode their squad.
Team composition
Retained players and new signings
KKR had retained some of the key players from their 2024 title-winning squad.
They include all-rounders Sunil Narine and Andre Russell, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, power-hitters Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh, and pacer Harshit Rana.
The team has bolstered its lineup with signings like wicketkeeper-batters Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, all-rounders Venkatesh Iyer and Moeen Ali, and pacers Anrich Nortje and Spencer Johnson.
SWOT analysis
KKR's strengths and weaknesses
KKR's strengths are their dynamic all-rounders, hard-hitting finishers, and a solid top order.
However, they are challenged by an inexperienced pace attack and the transitional phase of leadership under Rahane.
The team heavily relies on key players like Russell, Chakravarthy, and Narine while young pacers like Chetan Sakariya could be tested early in the tournament.
Rahane
Questions over Rahane's role
The appointment of Rahane as the captain of KKR has raised fears of a "captain-batter" conflict.
Many reckon that the veteran batter should be placed below number three.
However, this will mean Venkatesh, who was highly successful at three last season, needs to bat down.
Notably, Narine and de Kock are expected to form the opening pair.
Playing for the Chennai Super Kings in 2024, Rahane managed 242 runs at 20.17. He had a strike rate of 123.47.
Squad
Here is the squad
Here is KKR's squad for IPL 2025:
Batters: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rovman Powell, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, and Rinku Singh.
Wicket-keepers: Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Luvnith Sisodia.
All-rounders: Moeen Ali, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell.
Bowlers: Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Mayank Markande, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Varun Chakravarthy.
Team lineup
KKR's best XI for IPL 2025
KKR's best XI for IPL 2025: Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, and Chetan Sakariya.