Not Shreyas Iyer but veteran star set to be top retention for Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of IPL 2025 Auctions: Reports

Times of India have reported that Kolkata Knight Riders could make veteran West Indian star Andre Russell their top retention pick. In fact, there are doubts over the future of skipper Shreyas Iyer who led KKR to their 3rd title win in May. The 29-year-old is currently out of reckoning with the national team owing to his poor form. 

If Iyer isn’t the first retention then it can be safely assumed that KKR may be looking at a new name as the captain of the side. The last date to submit the retentions is the 31st of October. If Shreyas Iyer isn’t retained then this opens a chance for other teams to make play for the soon-to-be 30-year-old star during IPL 2025 Auctions. 

Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine are likely to be the other big retentions for the current IPL winners. Meanwhile, there is no clarity on the future of Australian star pacer Mitchell Starc. Kolkata forked out 24.75 Crores last year to make the veteran pacer the costliest player in the history of the league. 

Shreyas Iyer has just come back to form with a blistering century for Mumbai in the game against Maharashtra. The current Ranji champions beat Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side by 9 wickets on Monday to register their 1st win of the season. 

Comeback to Indian team on Iyer’s mind 

Speaking to the media after his century for Mumbai, Shreyas Iyer said that the knock was special. The 29-year-old scored 142 off 190 balls with 12 fours and 4 sixes at the Sharad Pawar Cricket Facility in BKC. 

ESPNCRICINFO quoted the Indian cricket star as saying “Coming back after a very long time, obviously, I was feeling a bit down with my injuries, but now getting a century after a very long time, it's a great feeling. I am absolutely keen for a Test comeback but yeah, as we say, control the controllables and my job is to keep performing and keep participating as much as possible and also see that my body is in the best shape. So I'll take the best decision possible according to that."

Addressing his fitness concerns, Iyer added “But there was this phase where I was feeling that it might occur again. But yeah, I trained a lot to see to it that I have optimum fitness and obviously it comes here and there, but now my capacity has improved a lot."