IPL 2025 Auction: Surprise Exclusions From the KKR and SRH Squad

The results of the retentions have created exciting scenarios for the teams to follow up for the upcoming IPL 2025 Auction. The following two teams will be looking at the options available for them in the pool and plan their strategies accordingly.

KKR retained 6 members of their core team including Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, also the uncapped duo of Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh. They have used INR 57 Crores of their purse and are left with INR 63 Crores that they would like to utilize wisely.

On the other hand, with 5 retentions and 1 RTM left, SRH has also retained their star performers from last season Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Abhishek Sharma, and Nitish Reddy. With the remaining purse of INR 45 Crores, the franchise would love to get a few players back and buy some new ones.

Let’s look at the players who would be the most likely picks again by their recent franchises in the IPL 2025 Auction:

Kolkata Knight Riders

3-times IPL winner and one of the dominating teams in the league, KKR was on fire last season. The strong Indian core with the foreign greats wreaked havoc on every team they played against. The mentorship of Gambhir changed the player’s approach to the game. The modern requirement of hard-hitting in the T20 format was seen in the batting style of each player. Every player had their role defined in the team something that was lacking in the last few years. Ultimately, the change in mindset worked well for them and led to the third title.

The management would be looking to retain these players for the coming season:

Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer has been sensational for KKR since he got an opportunity. His ability to bat anywhere in any situation makes him a great pick for KKR. His aggressive batting at the top of the order gives a strong start to the team. His powerplay game is on par with a few hard hitters of the game. Iyer’s ability to go hard at the bowlers makes him a dangerous batsman, and KKR would like to keep his service for the coming seasons. After a strong start to his career in 2021, KKR retained him for the next cycle at INR 8 Crore. Iyer has played 51 matches for KKR, scoring over 1300 runs at a strike rate of nearly 140. Backed by the management, Iyer could potentially go back to his original franchise and be a vital player for them again.

Phil Salt

Phil Salt was one of their best investments in the IPL 2024 and played a major role in the team’s success. Known for his attacking gameplay, Salt took the bowlers to cleaners from the word go and set the tone for the match. His terrific start to the inning gave the team an edge of 10-20 runs in each match. Along with Sunil Narine, the pair took the game away from the opposition in a flash. A regular member of the English setup in the shorter format, Salt was utilized fully by the management. The liberty to play the game in his style created a major impact in the tournament for KKR.

In 12 matches, Salt scored over 450 runs at a phenomenal strike rate of more than 180. He could easily score 10 runs in an over when needed. The management would like to have him back in the setup and continue with the destructive pair once again.

Mitchell Starc

The most expensive player in the IPL, Starc, lived up to his name. Known to give a great start with the ball, Starc took a few matches to get into his rhythm. Once he found his rhythm, he created a major impact against MI and in the knockouts. His toe-crushing yorkers were unplayable. His opening spell in the final made the game one-sided. Coming to the IPL after 9 years, Starc formed a destructive bowling line-up along with Harshit Rana, Narine, and others.

Initially, Starc struggled to get his rhythm, but there was never a doubt about his ability as a great bowler. His performances in the knockouts helped the team lift the trophy after a decade. In 14 matches, Starc picked 17 wickets at an economy of over 10. However, management would like to have him again and continue with the winning momentum of the team.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Winner of the IPL 2016 and one of the fan favorites. Sunrisers Hyderabad has not had great seasons since 2016 and even struggled to qualify for the playoffs. However, the tables turned in the IPL 2024 after they bought Pat Cummins, the second most expensive player in the history of IPL. The Aussie changed the way the team played till then. His aggressive brand of cricket gave a new look to the team. The sudden change in the approach saw players like Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, and Travis Head wreaking havoc on every bowler. Sadly the team lost the final to KKR.

The management would, however, like to get back these players:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

An IPL great and a core member of the SRH team for a very long time. Bhuvi has been phenomenal for SRH and has given countless memories of joy to the team. Bhuvi has had a fair amount of success playing for SRH and saw highs and lows. His form has dipped in the last few years, and he is not the same bowler. However, his skills are still unquestionable. On his day, he can win the game on his own. The control of the ball and his ability to swing the ball in both directions make him a great bowler.

The management would love to back the experienced horse and give him another season to rise and shine once again. and the yorkers at the death over turn to be crucial for the team. In 145 games for SRH, Bhuvi has picked 157 wickets. The management would love to back the experienced horse and give him another season to rise and shine once again.

T Natarajan

A yorker specialist who came to light for his death over bowling. Natarajan is one of the finest left-arm bowlers to play in the IPL. His skills are still unmatched, and he is likely to receive dividends for his hard work. His unplayable yorkers and cutters make him a quality bowler.

Picked by SRH in 2018, Natarajan has played 55 matches for them with 65 wickets to his tally. The numbers don’t do justice to the talent he has. He had a decent 2024 season where he picked 19 wickets in 14 matches. However, he was phenomenal at the death bowling and is likely to be picked again to form a formidable trio with Cummins and Bhuvi.

Abdul Samad

Abdul Samad, a hard-hitting batsman, can score runs at a quick pace. He burst onto the scene for his six-hitting skills and gave a quick fire 15-20 runs in a few balls. Sadly, he couldn’t live up to his expectations. He has been a hit-and-flop case for SRH. It is due to his inconsistency and mismanagement by the franchise. Playing for SRH, Samad has scored nearly 600 runs in 50 matches at a strike rate of nearly 150. His game is perfectly built for the new approach by SRH under the captaincy of Cummins. SRH would go back to their youngster and give him another chance to crack the IPL code. 

The mega-auction will be an exciting one for both teams to build the future and create a magnificent legacy.