IPL 2025 Mega Auction: Quinton de Kock moves to KKR, Gurbaz returns

On the first day of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction held in Jeddah, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made some significant signings, with the most notable being Venkatesh Iyer, whom they secured for a staggering ₹23.75 crore. This bid was the highest for KKR in the auction so far and the third-highest overall. Iyer’s base price was ₹2 crore, but after intense competition, particularly with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), KKR emerged victorious.

Following this, KKR further strengthened their squad by adding Quinton de Kock, the South African wicketkeeper-batter, for ₹3.60 crore. KKR also welcomed back Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan) for ₹2 crore, who had played for them previously. Additionally, they secured the services of Anrich Nortje, the South African pacer, for ₹6.50 crore, after a bidding battle with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Here is a breakdown of KKR's spending and retained players in the 2025 IPL auction:

KKR’s Auction Purchases:

• Venkatesh Iyer (₹23.75 crore)
• Quinton de Kock (South Africa) - ₹3.60 crore
• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan) - ₹2.00 crore
• Anrich Nortje (South Africa) - ₹6.50 crore

KKR's Retained Players:

• Rinku Singh - ₹13 crore
• Varun Chakraborty - ₹12 crore
• Sunil Narine - ₹12 crore
• Andre Russell - ₹12 crore
• Harshit Rana - ₹4 crore
• Ramandeep Singh - ₹4 crore

KKR's strategy to bring back Venkatesh Iyer, despite not retaining him earlier, proved to be a smart move. After an intense bidding war, KKR won the battle against RCB, setting a new benchmark for Iyer's value. This acquisition makes Iyer the third-most expensive player in this auction, reflecting his growing reputation in the IPL.

Apart from Iyer, KKR strengthened their squad with some key international players. Quinton de Kock was signed after a bidding tussle with Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad, showing KKR's aggressive approach to build a strong team.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, a proven performer, returns to KKR, and the addition of Anrich Nortje will boost their pace attack significantly. Nortje’s acquisition adds firepower to the KKR bowling line-up, ensuring they have a well-rounded team for the upcoming season.

Thus, KKR’s performance in the 2025 auction shows their commitment to strengthening their squad with a blend of power hitters, experienced internationals, and promising talent.