IPL 2025: 3 Threats for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to begin their IPL 2025 title defense on March 22 at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Despite some changes, KKR have managed to retain most of their core players. 

They also reacquired a few key names in the auction, ensuring stability in their squad. However, there are certain areas that could pose challenges for them as the season progresses.

Here are the 3 Threats for KKR in the IPL 2025

Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy

Last season, KKR won the championship under Shreyas Iyer’s dynamic captaincy. However, they did not retain him for this season, and Ajinkya Rahane, their new acquisition, has been named their new captain. Rahane has vast experience in leadership, having previously captained teams in the IPL, domestic tournaments for his state, and, most notably, India in the international circuit. However, alongside his captaincy duties, his performance with the bat remains a key question. Leading the reigning champions will not be easy, as expectations from fans will be even higher this time around.

Anrich Nortje’s fitness

KKR had Mitchell Starc last season, and he delivered strong performances as the tournament progressed, especially in the playoffs. However, they did not retain him this time and have brought in South Africa’s Anrich Nortje as his likely replacement. Fitness, though, has been a concern for the Proteas pacer in recent times. Due to back injuries, he missed both the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. With the IPL being a long and demanding tournament, managing Nortje’s workload will be crucial for KKR to ensure he remains fit and effective throughout the season.

Continuation of Sunil Narine as opener

Star West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine played a crucial role for KKR last season with both bat and ball. The strategy of using him as an explosive opener worked in KKR’s favour, but whether he will continue in that role this season remains uncertain. It appeared that former KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir played a key role in that decision. With Gambhir no longer with the team, it will be interesting to see whether KKR sticks with Narine as an opener or moves him down the order. His recent T20 form has not been promising, as he has managed only 58 runs in his last seven innings while batting in the middle order.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at BetBarter and download the BetBarter app to start betting today!