Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions of Indian Premier League, have announced their retention for the upcoming season, leaving fans surprised. Despite winning their third title in 2024 under the leadership of Shreya Iyer, the franchise has decided to release their title-winning captain. Instead, they have retained just four players and released the rest of the squad, including big names like Sunil Narine and Andre Russell.
Kolkata Knight Riders Release Title-Winning Captain
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the reigning champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), have made a surprising decision ahead of the upcoming season. The franchise has decided to release its title-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, and retain only four players from the championship team.
This move has come as a shock to many fans, as Iyer led KKR to their third IPL title in 2024. The 28-year-old batsman played a pivotal role in the team's success, scoring 401 runs in 16 matches and leading the side with composure and determination.
Background
KKR have been a consistent performer in the IPL, winning two titles in 2012 and 2014 under the leadership of Gautam Gambhir. However, they struggled in recent seasons before bouncing back in 2024 under Iyer's captaincy.
The team's success was built on a strong foundation of experienced players, including Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Venkatesh Iyer. However, KKR has now decided to overhaul its squad, releasing several key members in favor of a younger and more dynamic group.
Reasons for Release
The reasons behind KKR's decision to release Iyer and other players are not entirely clear. Speculation suggests that the franchise may be looking to build a new team identity and create a more balanced squad for the upcoming season.
It is also possible that KKR felt the need for a change of leadership after consecutive failures in the playoffs before the 2024 season. Iyer's leadership qualities were instrumental in the team's success, but the franchise may have felt that a fresh approach was necessary to maintain their momentum.
Retained Players
KKR has retained only four players from their championship team:
These players are all considered valuable assets to the team, with Rana and Rinku being key contributors to the batting lineup and Yadav and Chakravarthy providing experience and skill in the bowling department.
FAQs
Team India sets a challenging target of 534 runs for Australia in the first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Spinners Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar will play a crucial role in the remaining five Tests over 45 days. The team management's decision to add three spinners to the squad seems strategic, with the sudden preference for all-rounder Washington Sundar, who impressed both legendary Wasim Akram and head coach Ravi Shastri. India's dominant performance in the first innings, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal (161), Virat Kohli (100), and KL Rahul (77), gives them a good start in the tournament.
On Day 2 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth, Indian openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal took charge, leading India to an unbeaten score of 172/0, effectively 218/0. This puts them in a strong position to push for a victory in the next two days. Despite a tricky pitch, the Indian openers remained determined and focused, showcasing their skill and technique. This day will go down in history for India as they continue to dominate in this prestigious trophy.
21-year-old Nitish Reddy impresses in debut Test match, hitting 41 runs in just 59 balls and showcasing fearlessness against Australia's bowling attack. His upper cut for six off his IPL captain, Pat Cummins, was a highlight of his inning and showed his strength and composure. Reddy's performance helped India reach 150 runs and his partnership with Rishabh Pant helped salvage the innings. As Reddy and Cummins prepare for the IPL 2025 auction where they both retain with Sunrisers Hyderabad, fans can look forward to more thrilling clashes between the teammates.
Indian batting sensation Virat Kohli made history at Optus Stadium, Perth on Sunday by surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record of most Test centuries by an Indian batter in Australia and equalling former Australian captain Ricky Ponting's record of most 100s in India-Australia Tests played in Australia. Kohli's 30th Test century in 14 matches also helped him overtake Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara in the list of batters with most runs in India-Australia Tests.
In a stellar performance, Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli scored his 30th Test hundred in Australia and his 81st century overall. This feat puts him in the record books as the player with the most centuries for a visiting batsman in Australia across all formats. Kohli's hundred came after 375 days and proved to be a turning point in his form, silencing any doubts about his future in Test cricket. With a stunning 534-run target set for Australia in the first Test, all eyes are on Kohli to lead India to victory.
On a dominant performance by Mercedes at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, George Russell claimed his second win of the year and led a one-two finish for the team. Despite Lewis Hamilton's charge from 10th place, Russell held on to take the checkered flag and help Mercedes sweep the entire race weekend. In a historic moment, Max Verstappen became a four-time world champion by securing a fifth-place finish, one place ahead of Lando Norris. Verstappen's Red Bull was no match for the dominant Mercedes cars, though he put up a tough fight for a podium finish.
19-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal made history as he became only the third Indian to score a century in his debut Test match in Australia. His impressive performance helped India to secure a strong position against Australia in the Perth Test. The IPL mega auction, set to begin in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, is also making headlines in the world of sports. With Jaiswal's outstanding form, he has now become the leading Indian player in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle, scoring four centuries.
In a thrilling race at the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Mercedes' George Russell secured a dominant victory after starting on pole position. Teammate Lewis Hamilton finished in second place, making it a Mercedes 1-2. The race saw an intense battle for third place between Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc, and Max Verstappen, with Sainz ultimately claiming the final spot on the podium. Despite Hamilton's impressive comeback from a troubled qualifying session, it was Russell who crossed the finish line first, securing his first win of the 2024 season.
Young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal made history by becoming the fifth Indian cricketer to score a century in Perth, joining the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli. Jaiswal completed his maiden Test century against Australia on the third day of the ongoing Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth. This achievement puts Jaiswal in the same league as Indian legends Gavaskar, Amarnath, Tendulkar, and Kohli, who all have scored Test centuries in Perth.
Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. Lead Nuggets Past Lakers 127-102 The Denver Nuggets showed their strength in a dominant performance against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night. Led by Nikola Jokic's 34 points and Michael Porter Jr.'s 24, the Nuggets outscored the Lakers 70-39 in the second half and took control of the game. Despite an impressive performance from Russell Westbrook, scoring 14 points against his former team, the Lakers had no answer for Denver's inside and outside game. This was the first meeting between the two teams since the Nuggets eliminated the Lakers in the playoffs earlier this year, and it was a clear statement from Denver that they are still a dominant force in the Western Conference.