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The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the defending champions, have kept the majority of its championship core in an effort to duplicate their performance in the 2025 Indian Premier League. After probably the most successful season in IPL history in 2024, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are the defending champions going into the 2025 season. The majority of KKR's championship-winning core has survived the challenge of their big auction. But there have also been certain major changes. Instead of sporting purple, Gautam Gambhir now dons blue. The team's Indian core was fostered in large part by Abhishek Nayar. Most significantly, even if the position of captain has been given to competent individuals, it is not someone who fits the KKR mold. Strengths: Varun Chakravarthy's amazing purple patch is much of KKR's greatest strength. Every time he takes up the ball, the mystery spinner appears to have a hint of gold and is in the best form of his life. Despite his age of 33 and Sunil Narine's age of 36, together they constitute the team with the strongest pedigree in terms of spin attack. What is KKR's other strong suit? Ramandeep Singh, Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh are the three Rs. There are already two of these in place. KKR may have the greatest lower-middle order in the tournament, though, especially when you include the rapidly improving Ramandeep. Kolkata Knight Riders Weakness: Although the Knight Riders have been able to retain the majority of its core, there are still significant gaps left by the departing members. Despite having terrible roles in their championship victory, Phil Salt, Shreyas Iyer, and Mitchell Starc are no longer present. Shreyas remained unblemished in every run chase in 2024, Salt made sure that KKR had a dependable opener at last, and Starc performed excellently when it counted most. Although Spencer Johnson, Ajinkya Rahane, and Quinton de Kock are not slouches. Their T20I pedigree and form appear to have slightly declined. Particularly

In the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) and among cricketers in the state. Sanju Samson is difficult exclusion from the Vijay Hazare Trophy last season has had no effect on his reputation. At the Kerala Cricket League (KCL) auction on Saturday. The India and Rajasthan Royals batsman solidified his reputation by becoming the most expensive acquisition. For a record INR 26.60 lakh, the Kochi Blue Tigers acquired him. Samson will be playing in his first competitive match since the end of the 2025 Indian Premier League. When he played nine games for the Rajasthan Royals. The team had a poor season, with only four wins and 10 losses, ending ninth. A side strain held Samson out of action for a large chunk of the middle part of the season. After missing out on Vijay Hazare's squad. Samson will also make his debut appearance under the KCA's jurisdiction at the KCL. Due to his failure to attend a training camp prior to the tournament. Sanju Samson was disqualified at the time. Despite the KCA's declaration that they wanted to set a precedent. The India batter said that he had written to the association requesting permission to skip the camp. Sanju Samson Samson, who was named the league's brand ambassador, declined to play in the KCL's first season due to international obligations. After that, his name was removed from the auctions and he was granted a respite. Samson, who most memorably scored three hundred against South Africa and Bangladesh, has since solidified his status as an everyday T20I opener for India. The all-rounder Jalaj Saxena was selected for INR 12.6 lakh. While the second-most expensive pick was Vishnu Vinod, a batsman and wicketkeeper who played for the Mumbai Indians. Vignesh Puthur, a juvenile left-arm wrist spinner. Who impressed in the trials and was signed by the Mumbai Indians for INR 30 lakh. Brought the first edition of the KCL into sharp focus during this year's IPL. He was also brought to South Africa. Where he played for MI Cape Town as a n