Kolkata Knight Riders’ title defense marked by unexpected turmoil and irony | Cricbuzz.com

**IPL 2025 Team Preview: Kolkata Knight Riders’ Title Defence Tinted with Irony and Upheaval**

*By Pratyush Sinha*

In the 2025 installment of the Indian Premier League, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) find themselves dealing with the dual complexity of irony and unwelcome transitions, as they embark on their title defence. The departure of Shreyas Iyer, their captain who steered them to championship victory, has left a significant void. Efforts to retain Iyer proved futile, marking an unexpected turn during their mega auction which appeared focused on reassembling their victorious 2024 squad, yet now must proceed without their trusted leader.

The extent of Shreyas Iyer’s absence remains to be seen, but KKR has pinned its hopes on Venkatesh Iyer, secured for a record-breaking INR 23.75 crore. However, in a twist to expectations, the captaincy has been entrusted to the experienced Ajinkya Rahane. At 36, Rahane brings fresh success, having led Mumbai to a domestic T20 triumph while topping the run charts with a striking rate of 166.

The departure of Shreyas wasn’t the sole blow for KKR. Gautam Gambhir, their mentor attributed with the team’s revitalization, also exited, accompanied by Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, thus dismantling the core of KKR’s strategic framework. This ushered in opportunities for Ottis Gibson as assistant coach and Dwayne Bravo as mentor. Though an IPL legend, Bravo’s outsider status contrasts with Gambhir’s deep-rooted connection as a former KKR captain and player.

Amidst this upheaval, KKR’s formidable spin attack and capable lower middle order remain their perennial strengths.

**Complete Squad:**
Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer (vc), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Quinton de Kock (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Mayank Markande, Anrich Nortje, Vaibhav Arora, Manish Pandey, Luvnith Sisodia (wk), Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Moeen Ali, Chetan Sakariya, Spencer Johnson

**Probable Best Eleven:**
Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy

**Injury and Availability Concerns:**
Umran Malik is sidelined for the season, with Chetan Sakariya drafted as his replacement after initially joining as a net bowler. Anrich Nortje’s return from injury, potentially slotting in as a leading bowler, remains uncertain without confirmation of his availability.

**Player Under Scrutiny:**
Venkatesh Iyer stands out as KKR’s priciest acquisition, with the vice-captaincy adding further responsibilities. The question will be how he manages the immense pressure of the IPL stage whilst being the franchise stalwart for over four years, yet to truly shine as a dominant force.

**Potential Breakout Star:**
Angkrish Raghuvanshi, at just 20, exhibited his explosive capabilities in only his second IPL match, signaling an exciting prospect. With a middle-order vacancy and a license for aggression, Raghuvanshi could significantly impact the competition this season.

**Fixture Dynamics:**
In contrast to 2024’s concentrated series of home games, this season demands frequent travels, with no more than two consecutive matches at Eden Gardens. Closing their league campaign with matches in Hyderabad and Bengaluru implies KKR must not defer crucial victories.

**Eden Gardens’ Stark Realities:**
Spinners such as Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine have faced and overcome challenges at Eden Gardens, sustaining their performance despite the ground’s transformation away from its past spin-favoring conditions.

*Statistical contributions provided by Deepu Narayanan.*
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