The two-day Indian Premier League (IPL) mega auction concluded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 25 after some record-breaking deals and some fierce bidding war between 10 franchises. Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, who have three IPL seasons so far, had a good time in the auction.
While there were a few surprising additions to the Knight Riders squad, they primarily focused on acquiring the tried and tested players who had earlier made an impact on the franchise. While they let go of quite a few big games, the KKR management was always clear on the players they wanted to buy back.
They managed to retain their core from the previous year and also bought back players like Ajinkya Rahane and Manish Pandey who had served KKR earlier. The squad looks well-oiled with so much experience in every department of the game. KKR also managed to buy a few fresh faces who hope to take the tournament by storm once the actual action begins in March.
Now let us rank KKR’s five best buys in the 2025 IPL auction considering several factors like value for money, potential to serve the franchise, and whether he is a long-term option.
#5 Rovman Powell
The West Indies T20I captain is one of the most powerful strikers going around. Thus, it was indeed a steal for the Kolkata Knight Riders to buy him at his base price of INR 1.50 crores. There wasn't any bidder for the big man and KKR would consider it to be a blessing in disguise.
Powell hasn't been able to realize his potential in the cash-rich league so far but everyone is aware of his potential. Formerly a Delhi Capitals player, Powell smashed three sixes off the first three deliveries of Obed McCoy in an IPL match in 2022, which remains the highlight of his IPL career.
Considering his impact in other leagues and for West Indies, Powell could become a permanent feature in the KKR XI. He might be slotted lower down the order and can play the role of a finisher.
#4 Venkatesh Iyer
Now not many would have thought Venkatesh Iyer to go for the amount he did but KKR was very clear in their plan. They somehow managed to get back all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer who had formed a core of KKR in the last three years. He might not be one of the most flamboyant players going around but he is certainly a good buy for KKR.
He was eventually snapped up by KKR for a whopping sum of INR 23.75 crores after a fierce bidding war with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Kolkata wanted to retain the majority of the core and that was the reason why they went all out for Venkatesh. It's the price tag that puts the powerful left-hander in the bottom half of the rankings.
Ever since joining the KKR midway through the 2021 season, he has been a revelation and played a massive role in their dramatic turnaround in 2021. His form dipped in 2022 and questions were raised as to why he was still being carried by the franchise. However, he answered his critics with a bang in the next two seasons, scoring 404 and 370 runs, respectively.
#3 Quinton de Kock
Another promising buy for the defending champions is none other than swashbuckling South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock. While De Kock hasn't yet officially retired from T20I cricket, his last game for South Africa came in the T20 World Cup final against India.
The SunRisers Hyderabad was the first to raise the paddle for de Kock but only went as far as INR 2.80 crores. The Mumbai Indians were also in the race but eventually, it was KKR who acquired his services for INR 3.60 crores. The last two years haven't been great for the keeper-batter but his overall IPL record makes him a good buy for KKR.
In all likelihood, he will open the innings and also play the role of a wicket-keeper which will allow the franchise to play an extra batter or bowler depending on the situation of the match. Given his stature and credentials as a cricketer, KKR certainly cracked a good deal.
#2 Umran Malik
It's sad to see a tearaway fast bowler like Umran Malik not getting a significant deal in the auction. While it was indeed a steal from KKR’s point of view given how rapid strides the speedster took in the IPL a couple of years ago, it will be a matter of pride for the youngster when he comes onto the field in KKR colors.
Buying one of the fastest bowlers in the world for his base price of INR 75 lakhs would certainly be a lucrative deal for a franchise. Umran has gone off the radar a bit but he is still a youngster and has a lot to offer to cricket. If he does maintain his shape and fitness, Umran could end up reviving his career with the defending champions.
#1 Vaibhav Arora
Arguably the best buy for the Kolkata Knight Riders has to be medium pacer Vaibhav Arora who played an instrumental role in KKR’s triumphant campaign back in 2024. The Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals started the bidding war, while Delhi Capitals joined at INR 1.70 crores.
They didn't go any further as KKR eventually snapped him up for INR 1.80 crores. Given the impact he made for the franchise a year ago and given his familiarity with the team, Vaibhav is perhaps the best buy for KKR in the auction. He bagged 11 wickets in 10 games in the previous IPL and bagged the prized wicket of Travis Head in the final.
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