Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have put together a formidable team and are definitely one of the favorites in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025). Furthermore, the possibility of defending their title will serve as additional motivation, making the team one of the most dangerous rivals to take into account.

KKR’s lineup features multiple match-winners and the management has done well to find solid backup options in the roster as well. Given the problem of abundance, there may be some cricketers who fail to make the cut in the playing XI and they are mostly warming the bench.

In this article, let’s take a look at three such cricketers who can remain in the KKR bench in IPL 2025.

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Rovman Powell

West Indies short format captain Rovman Powell has a reputation for his explosive batting and occasional contributions with the ball. The defending champions acquired him for INR 1.50 crore, possibly as a backup to Andre Russell.

However, Russell has been a key player for the franchise over the years and is expected to feature prominently next season. However, Powell’s availability can help KKR manage Russell’s workload given that he has been injury prone in the past.

Moeen Ali

The England all-rounder, who previously plied his trade with the Chennai Super Kings until the last season (IPL 2024), was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders for INR 2 crore during the two-day auction last month.

However, with Sunil Narine delivering a brilliant job in the 2024 season that also earned him the MVP award, Ali could face limited opportunities in the upcoming edition. Additionally, the impact player rule could further reduce Ali’s chances of appearing throughout the tournament.

Anukul Roy

Anukul Roy has been with KKR for the last two seasons but has struggled to secure a regular place in the playing XI. The left-arm spinner is primarily considered a back-up option or a situational impact player.

With Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine forming a formidable duo in the IPL, Roy’s opportunities remain limited. Even as KKR look to include an extra spinner, Mayank Markande is likely to get the nod due to his ability to take crucial wickets.

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