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3 Big Match Performers Ignored; KKR Will Miss These Players From 2024 Squad In IPL 2025

Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Mitchell Starc For KKR [Source: @KnightsVibe/x.com]Mitchell Starc For KKR [Source: @KnightsVibe/x.com]

The Kolkata Knight Riders have been one of the top performing teams in the Indian Premier League. In case of titles they are the third best with three IPL titles under their belt. Notably, their latest championship run came in the last edition of the tournament in 2024.

The defending champions are known to acquire role-specific players for their squad and bring the best out of them during the tournaments. They have followed the same strategy while building the squad for the IPL 2025. Even though, they have take special care to form a team that has all bases covered. While they will look to make the most of the resources available to them for the tournament, there are few players from the 2024 squad, they might miss in the upcoming edition.

3. Phil Salt

Phil Salt for KKR [Source: @KKRKaFan/x.com]Phil Salt for KKR [Source: @KKRKaFan/x.com]

The partnership between Sunil Narine and Phil Salt at the top of the order was one of the main reasons for KKR going on to lift the title. The duo was consistent, solid and yet did not sacrifice on the quick scoring aspect for an opening pair.

In the 12 matches that Salt has played for KKR, he has scored 435 runs at an average of 39.55 and a strike rate of 182.01. The numbers are a prove of the impact that the English batter left as a opener for KKR in IPL 2024.

Even though, he had a positive impact on the performance of KKR, the franchise decided to release him ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. In his absence, the defending champions will miss an opener who could have given them consistent, impactful starts. Besides, the team will now have to find a new partner for Narine who could adjust quickly and help the team take an advantage of the powerplays. 

2. Mitchell Starc

The Australian pacer was one of the most costliest buys ahead of IPL 2024. Mitchell Starc had an average start to the campaign and was not providing to be cost effective in the first few games. However, Starc stood up and delivered when it mattered the most.

In the playoff and in the final, the left arm pacer proved to be one of their most valuable performers with five wickets. In the final he picked up the early wickets of Abishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi and played a huge role in finishing off the game as a competition pretty early.

However, ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, KKR decided to release him and during the event DC added him to the roster. In his absence, KKR will miss a strike bowler who was able to pick up wicket in almost all the stages of a game and provide the team an advantage in the big games. 

1. Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer for KKR in IPL 2024 [Source: @KnightsVibe/x.com]Shreyas Iyer for KKR in IPL 2024 [Source: @KnightsVibe/x.com]

The Indian middle-order batter led the KKR team to a title win as the captain in 2024. However ahead of IPL 2025 mega auction, the franchise decided to release him and did not engage in the bidding war for him. The Punjab Kings bought Iyer for ₹26.75 Cr and has also handed over the captaincy to him for the 2025 edition.

Besides being a successful leader, Shreyas Iyer also contributed heavily as a middle-order batter. In the 14 innings that Iyer batted in, he scored 351 runs at an average of 39.00 and a strike rate of 146.86.

In absence of Shreyas Iyer, KKR might miss a leader who can use his resources well and optimise the options available. Also a solid and dynamic middle-order batter is something that KKR might miss during the tournament.