The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction will include a large selection of excellent foreign players for the reigning champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Here, we examine the top four choices for them to begin with in the next edition:
Andre Russell
Andre Russell, who is renowned for his physical strength, has the ability to alter the outcome of a game with a few deliveries, particularly when it comes to the end. Since 2022, he has reached a boundary per 3.6 deliveries during the IPL phase.
In addition to his 175 IPL lifetime strike rate, he has taken 115 wickets, making him a very useful option with the ball. He is still an essential part of the KKR setup at the age of 36.
Sunil Narine
One of the IPL’s most adaptable players is Sunil Narine. He can bowl at any stage of the game and bat anywhere in the lineup. Having given up just 6.73 runs per over in 177 games, he is among the IPL’s most economical bowlers.
Nor is he a mug with the bat. Of the hitters who have scored at least 1,500 runs in the event, Sunil Narine has the lowest strike rate (165.8), followed only by Andre Russell (174.9).
Quinton de Kock
At the IPL 2025 auction, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Kolkata expressed interest in hiring Quinton de Kock, but the reigning champions ultimately paid INR 3.6 crore to get the South African wicketkeeper.
Given that de Kock can start the batting and has a reliable hand behind the wickets, it may end up being a good deal for them. In the IPL since 2022, the southpaw has hit at a solid average of 31.07 and 143.2, both of which are excellent figures.
Anrich Nortje
Although injuries have hindered Anrich Nortje’s career, his skill set is undeniable. Consequently, KKR took a chance by paying INR 6.5 crore to sign the South African pacer.
Although Nortje can perform well in any phase, his best performances come in the middle and death overs. Since 2022, he has amassed 35 runs (SR 18.2) and 38 runs (SR 13.9) in the middle and death overs, respectively.
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