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As the Indian Premier League (IPL) gears up for its 2025 edition, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane, are preparing to defend their title. Former India player Aakash Chopra has shared his insights on KKR’s probable playing XI and strategic approaches for the upcoming season.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ challenges and opportunities
KKR, the defending champions, face significant challenges in IPL 2025, particularly with the departure of their previous captain Shreyas Iyer and key player Mitchell Starc. Chopra highlighted that finding an ideal batting position for Ajinkya Rahane will be crucial, as Rahane is unlikely to secure a spot in the top three. Additionally, the team needs to fill the void left by Starc in the bowling department, with Spencer Johnson being a potential candidate.
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Aakash Chopra’s probable playing XI: Two options for KKR
Chopra has proposed two possible playing XIs for KKR, each offering a different approach to their batting lineup.
Option 1: Without Sunil Narine as an opener
In this lineup, Rahane partners Quinton de Kock at the top. The middle order features Angkrish Raghuvanshi or Manish Pandey at No. 3, followed by Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, and Andre Russell. Sunil Narine, known for his explosive batting and bowling, slots in lower down the order alongside Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Johnson.
“They will have two options. One will be to open with Ajju, with Quinton de Kock alongside him, which means you don’t get Narine to open. You could play either Angkrish Raghuvanshi or Manish Pandey at No. 3, and then Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy and Spencer Johnson,” Chopra said on his Youtube channel.
Probable XI (Without Sunil Narine as opener):
Ajinkya Rahane, Quinton de Kock, Angkrish Raghuvanshi/Manish Pandey, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Spencer Johnson
Option 2: With Sunil Narine as an opener
This lineup sees Narine opening with De Kock, allowing Rahane to bat at No. 3. Iyer follows at No. 4, with Rinku, Russell, and Ramandeep forming a powerful middle order. The bowling attack includes Rana, Johnson, Chakaravarthy, and Anukul Roy or another player.
“Vaibhav Arora is always available to you as an Impact Sub. If you wish, you can use Anukul Roy at times. However, there is another option as well where Ajinkya Rahane won’t get to open. Then Sunil Narine can open with Quinton de Kock, Ajju at No. 3, Venky at No. 4 and then Rinku, Russell and Ramandeep,” he added.
Probable XI (With Narine as opener):
Sunil Narine, Quinton de Kock, Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Spencer Johnson, Varun Chakaravarthy, Anukul Roy/Someone Else
Strategic insights for IPL 2025
Chopra suggested that KKR’s strategy might involve aggressive batting throughout their innings, leveraging their explosive middle order to maximize runs. The presence of Narine at the top provides the team with the “license to thrill,” allowing them to go for big scores from the start.
“Go really hard right till the end with the bat because you have a lot of ability to hit, and if you open with Sunil Narine, you have the license to thrill and just go for the kill. They do have the batting might. So I feel they will keep hitting continuously,” the former Indian cricketer stated.
Chopra further believed that KKR might prepare flat pitches at the Eden Gardens to exploit their batting might and varied spin-bowling lineup. This approach could help them win crucial home matches, as the spin duo of and Narine can be particularly effective in batting-friendly conditions.
“Win all your matches at home. The spin variety they have creates a difference in the end in batting-friendly conditions. So their strategy could be to play on flat pitches. The rise of Harshit Rana will help them. He has added another dimension to their bowling attack,” Chopra concluded.
