KKR IPL 2024 Champions. (Photo Source: R.SATISH BABU/AFP via Getty Images)

Defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are strictly against the idea of a mega-auction, which is scheduled to take place ahead of the IPL 2025 season. It would mean, that the three-time champions will have to let go majority of their players, including some, who have played a vital part in their triumph in 2024.

Recently, during a meeting with BCCI officials, KKR co-owner Shahrukh Khan was reported to have had a verbal argument with Punjab Kings co-owner, Ness Wadia, who was in favour of the mega-auction. BCCI has listened to all ten parties and a decision regarding the retention and RTM policy is expected to be finalized in the first week of September.

Nevertheless, a mega-auction is very much on the cards, which will force KKR to release some big names. Their mentor Gautam Gambhir, batting and fielding coach Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate respectively have left the team to join the national squad, which has put more pressure on KKR as they have to sort out the think-tank first, before taking a call on the retention. However, who are the three players they will have to let go eventually?

Here are three players KKR can release ahead of IPL 2025:

3. Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Australia ace pacer Mitchell Starc is very likely to part ways with Kolkata Knight Riders. He was bought for a whopping INR 24.75 crore in the auction but he failed to live up to his reputation in the league stage. However, in the playoffs, Starc proved his value, helping the Shreyas Iyer-led side beat Sunrisers Hyderabad in the final to win the coveted trophy.

However, Starc’s high value may force KKR to let him go. Even though the franchise can decide the retention amount, it’s unlikely that the pacer would settle for anything less. More importantly, the franchise would look forward to signing a bigger contract with their star players – Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shreyas Iyer and Rinku Singh and that would force KKR to leave out Starc.

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Also, Starc’s participation in the next IPL is a mystery. England will travel to Australia in late 2025 for a five-match Test series and keeping that in mind, the Australia international may opt out of the cash-rich tournament. In that case, KKR will for sure let him go.

2. Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

In the absence of Shreyas Iyer in 2023, Nitish Rana led Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. He has been a part of the franchise for seven seasons but as things stand, the franchise might have to release him. They did the same ahead of the 2022 edition of the competition as well but then bought him again for INR 8 crore in the auction.

This time around, KKR have plenty of Indian talents to choose from and unfortunately, Rana comes down in the pecking order. Letting a senior player and a former captain go won’t be an easy task but Rana doesn’t fit in even if BCCI allows five retentions for the next season.

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The 30-year-old has batted for KKR in 86 innings and has scored 2,199 runs. He has been very consistent in the middle order, which might help him get back into the team as KKR can use their RTM cards on the player if BCCI at all brings it back. They can also buy him in the auction, given his long association with the franchise and is one of the leaders in the locker room.

1. Phil Salt

Phil Salt. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Phil Salt was arguably KKR’s best player in IPL 2024 along with Sunil Narine. The duo wreaked havoc in the top order which helped the franchise plenty of times in the tournament. His aggressive batting is exactly what KKR lacked earlier and sooner than not, he became one of the first names on the team sheet.

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Salt played 12 matches for KKR and has hit 435 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 182. He was a force to reckon with in the powerplay and KKR would fancy retaining him for next season as well, but it will be extremely difficult. It’s very unlikely that BCCI will allow each team to retain more than two foreigners and that’s where Salt is missing out.

KKR are not getting rid of Andre Russell and Sunil Narine anytime soon, especially not after the kind of season they have had in 2024. It would mean the franchise to let go of Salt but they would try to get him back in the auction. If allowed, they won’t be shy to use RTM cards as well.