IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders SWOT Analysis

In this article, we take a look at the SWOT Analysis of 3-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders, following the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. 

Strength

The Kolkata Knight Riders walked into the IPL 2025 Mega Auction having already retained six members from their 2024 title-winning squad. With one of the smallest budgets, the KKR hierarchy were still able to put together a competitive playing XI. 

KKR will hope that Quinton de Kock can emulate what Phil Salt did for them last season, while the lack of an anchor play in the team means there will be added responsibility on the shoulders of Venkatesh Iyer, youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh.

Moreover, KKR still boast one of the best spin duos in Sunil Narine and Varun Chakraborty while the likes of Mayank Markande, Anukul Roy and Moeen Ali will give them much needed depth and variation when playing in turning wickets. 

Weakness

With Mitchell Starc off to the Delhi Capitals, the new KKR management roped in Spencer Johnson and Anrich Nortje as their overseas fast bowlers. However, both Johnson and Nortje struggled during last season’s IPL. 

Johnson, playing for Gujarat Titans, leaked runs at 9.5 runs per over while Anrich Nortje went over 13 runs per over in his six games for DC. Although only one of them will make the playing XI, the fact that neither bowler has been effective during the Power Plays and death overs should be a cause for concern heading into the 2025 season. 

Moreover, KKR’s Indian fast bowling contingent is still inexperienced and lack cover with Umran Malik being the only backup to the likes of Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora. 

Opportunity

The 19-year-old Angkrish Raghuvanshi burst into the scene last season with a 54 off 27 balls in his IPL debut against the Delhi Capitals. Batting with a strike-rate of 155, the 2022 U19 World Cup winner played some crucial roles in the KKR setup led by Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir. However, Shreyas Iyer off to the Punjab Kings, the onus will be on young Raghuvanshi to build on his debut campaign from last season. 

Although KKR have two experienced campaigners in Ajinkya Rahane and Manish Pandey, the upside of Raghuvanshi finding his feet outweighs what Rahane and Pandey bring to the table. Thus, it’s likely that KKR will give the 19-year-old an extended run in the #4 role. 

Threat

Sunil Narine’s batting will be a huge concern for KKR. The 36-year-old West Indian enjoyed his best ever IPL campaign last season. Narine scored 488 runs at a strike-rate of 180 and took 17 wickets at an economy of just 6.69. 

Since then, Narine has scored just 120 runs in 22 T20 innings, getting dismissed under 10 runs in 18 of those innings. If Narine fails to reignite his form from last season, KKR will find themselves in heaps of trouble since it was Phil Salt and Narine’s opening onslaught last season that paved the way to many commanding victories. 

Apart from that, the current KKR side lacks leaders. With Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir both out of the picture, KKR’s Rs 23.75 cr acquisition of Venkatesh Iyer means the left hander could be in line to be the next KKR skipper. 

Apart from Iyer, Rinku Singh has vice-captained the Indian T20 international side on a couple of occasions, while they also have a reliable left-field shout in Ajinkya Rahane. The former Rajasthan Royals skipper knows what it takes to lead an IPL side, however, after an impressive 2023 season with CSK, Rahane’s 2024 campaign was littered with inconsistencies. Thus, the most important question is whether Rahane can be consistent over a 14-game long season. 

Probable XII: Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakraborty, Mayank Markande/Manish Pandey (Impact Sub) 

Prediction: 7th