IPL 2025: 5 Auction Blunders by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

In the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025), the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a wild ride, displaying moments of brilliance but ultimately falling short when it mattered most. On paper, they had a strong team, but their weaknesses and inconsistencies were exposed in the later stages of the competition.

Now on the brink of elimination and needing to win all their remaining games, KKR’s struggles can largely be traced back to poor choices at the IPL 2025 auction. From unbalanced signings to overlooked roles, several questionable decisions hampered their title hopes.

Here are 5 IPL 2025 Auction Blunders by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR):

1. Overspending to buy back Venkatesh Iyer

Although promising, Venkatesh Iyer’s previous performances didn’t justify the hefty INR 23.75 crore price tag, making KKR’s move to repurchase him controversial. The massive outlay left little room for other key acquisitions, weakening the squad’s overall depth.

Iyer was burdened with expectations to deliver match-winning performances but struggled to do so consistently. KKR overcommitted to his potential at the expense of a more balanced approach, limiting their flexibility during the auction.

2. No experienced foreign fast bowler to guide Indian pacers

Letting go of Mitchell Starc was a major decision. While financially sound, KKR failed to bring in an equally impactful overseas pacer. They signed Anrich Nortje and Spencer Johnson, but both underperformed relative to expectations.

Now, KKR is left dependent on Indian pacers like Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Chetan Sakariya, who haven’t delivered consistently. An experienced foreign pacer could have mentored the young Indian bowlers and anchored the pace attack better.

3. Letting go of Phil Salt and not trying to buy him back

KKR didn’t attempt to retain Phil Salt, who had provided explosive starts as an opener and scored 435 runs during their IPL 2024 title-winning campaign. Instead, they relied on the experience of Quinton de Kock and the youth of Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

De Kock managed just 143 runs in 7 games, and Gurbaz only 63 in 4, leaving KKR struggling for strong starts in the powerplay. Replacing a proven match-winner like Salt without a solid backup proved to be a costly miscalculation.

4. Not buying a good captain after Shreyas Iyer’s exit

After leading KKR to the IPL 2024 title, Shreyas Iyer left the franchise due to failed retention talks and wasn’t pursued in the auction. This left KKR without a seasoned captain to steer the team.

The lack of an experienced leader showed in on-field decisions, especially under pressure. It wasn’t until Ajinkya Rahane was picked late in the auction that KKR found a captain—one who has since kept them in playoff contention.

5. Over-reliance on retained players

KKR retained Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Andre Russell, but failed to plan for their aging stars. While Varun (15 wickets) and Narine (10 wickets, 189 runs) have performed, the lack of reliable backups has hurt them.

When the next auction arrives, KKR must bring in fresh faces and rethink their strategy. Moving out of their comfort zone is essential to rebuild a team ready to compete strongly in IPL 2026.

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