Sources: 
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) experienced a
disappointing IPL 2025 season, finishing at
8th place on the points table and missing out on the playoffs.
The franchise appointed
Ajinkya Rahane as captain following the mega auction, and he emerged as the team's highest run-scorer. However, despite his efforts, Rahane was unable to inspire a strong team performance.
KKR's struggles were compounded by the absence of key players from their previous title-winning squad. The team failed to retain the influential trio of
Shreyas Iyer, Mitchell Starc, and Phil Salt, who had been instrumental in their 2024 success.
Among the squad,
Anukul Roy, a promising spin-bowling all-rounder from Jharkhand, was notably underutilized. Despite being part of the KKR setup for some time, Roy featured in only
one match during the entire season, which was against the Delhi Capitals.
This limited opportunity for Roy highlights a broader issue of underusing talented players, which may have contributed to the team's lackluster performance.
"Anukul Roy is a talented spin-bowling all-rounder from Jharkhand. He has been with the KKR setup for quite some time, but chances have been few and far between," noted analysts.
The combination of a weakened squad and underutilization of key players like Roy left KKR unable to replicate their previous success, resulting in a forgettable campaign.
Going forward, the franchise will need to reassess player retention and selection strategies to bounce back in future IPL seasons.
Sources: Kolkata Knight Riders endured a disappointing IPL 2025, finishing eighth and missing playoffs. Despite Ajinkya Rahane's top-scoring efforts, KKR struggled without key players like Shreyas Iyer and Mitchell Starc. Promising all-rounder Anukul Roy was underutilized, featuring in only one match against Delhi Capitals.
