Venky Mysore, the CEO of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), acknowledged the difficult task of narrowing down player retentions to six ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, especially after their successful previous season. The franchise decided to retain middle-order batsman Rinku Singh for INR 13 crore, along with Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakaravarthy, each at INR 12 crore, and uncapped players Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh, both for INR 4 crore.
This decision meant parting ways with their captain Shreyas Iyer, along with Mitchell Starc, Phil Salt, Venkatesh Iyer, and Nitish Rana. Mysore noted, “Identifying the key players was a challenge since we had 10 or 11 strong candidates. Ultimately, we had to focus on those we had a solid rapport with and who had contributed significantly to KKR.”
He highlighted the long-standing relationships with retained players, mentioning that Sunil Narine has been with the team for 12 years, Andre Russell for 10, and Varun Chakaravarthy since 2019. Rinku Singh has also been part of KKR since 2018, while Harshit and Ramandeep have made notable contributions in recent seasons.
Mysore elaborated on the retention process, emphasizing the importance of transparency and communication. He mentioned that while he had not spoken directly to the six players retained, he had discussions with those who were not retained, ensuring they understood the reasoning behind the decisions.
“Retention is not solely a one-way street; it requires mutual agreement. Sometimes, players opt to explore other opportunities, which can be difficult but is a part of the process,” he explained.
With KKR entering the auction with INR 51 crore and no Right-To-Match cards, Mysore outlined the unique challenges this year’s auction presents. “Each team will have its own strategy. While some teams may retain few players and enter with a larger budget, our focus will be on completing our squad effectively,” he stated.
Mysore also reflected on the significant involvement of the support staff in shaping the team’s strategy, particularly following the departure of key figures like Gautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar to the Indian team. He commended the contributions of his team, including DJ, Chandrakant Pandit, Bharathi Arun, Carl Crowe, and analyst Nathan Leamon, stating that their collaborative efforts are crucial in decision-making as KKR prepares for the upcoming auction.
