While the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2025 season were a combination of experienced veterans, younger players, and professional coaches, for a great deal of the year, it seemed like they were trying to create a puzzle and finding themselves missing some of the key pieces. While statistically, finishing the 2025 IPL season in 8th place with 12 points may have been respectable to outsiders, the fans of the KKR felt a sense of letdown by the end of the year. This was because KKR never presented itself to the fans or to other teams as a serious contender for playoff positions at any time during the year. Here are the three KKR Player must hold on to, regardless of recent stumbles.

 

Foundations First: Why Umran Still Matters

 

Umran Malik did not bowl one ball in IPL 2025; injury stopped him from bowling, and while he has made some sort of domestic comeback, it is not a comeback that screams “a fearsome young tearaway.” Therefore, with so few fast bowling options at the front line of the team, to lose India’s fastest young bowler would be a decision that you will be thinking about for five years.

 

KKR doesn’t have the luxury of depth. Nortje’s workload is unpredictable, Johnson is inconsistent, and the support cast remains raw. Umran may be flawed, but his ceiling is outrageous. Put him under Dwayne Bravo, a master of pace management and white-ball craft, and you’re suddenly nurturing a weapon, not just a bowler. Release him now, and you’re gifting another franchise a long-term asset.

 

Leadership Void: The Case for Sticking with Rahane

 

Ajinkya Rahane’s domestic dip is undeniable. Five failures in six Ranji innings is not something you brush aside. But this conversation isn’t just about form; it’s about leadership and stability.

 

Rahane was KKR’s top scorer in IPL 2025. He held a batting unit together that otherwise oscillated between chaos and confusion. More importantly, KKR tried to land KL Rahul as captain and failed, which leaves them with no ready-made replacement. You don’t walk into an auction hoping for a leader; leadership isn’t sold by the kilogram.

 

Gurbaz and the Keeper Conundrum

 

Here’s the Gurbaz puzzle: the talent is massive, but the output hasn’t caught up. Seventy-four runs in five games is worrying for any T20 opener, and even Afghanistan expects more from him.

 

But KKR’s keeping cupboard is alarmingly bare. Quinton de Kock is nearing the twilight of his T20 career, and while Luvnith Sisodia is promising, he’s still a work in progress. Gurbaz remains the only keeper who can change a match within 20 balls on his day, a rare commodity. In a league where wicketkeepers with strike rates above 140 are auction gold, you don’t release one unless you have a better option lined up. KKR doesn’t.

At this point, KKR’s most significant adversary is not their form – it is impatience. Teams become frustrated with an underperforming season, and instead of being patient to rebuild, they seek to drastically change who they are as a team, which will likely result in just another mediocre season. The three players, Umran, Rahane, and Gurbaz, provide KKR what they so desperately needs: structural stability. Umran provides speed and potential for the future; Rahane provides leadership and dependability; and Gurbaz is a keeper-batsman who can be used to hit big shots at the top of the order. If they were allowed to leave, it would also create additional voids that KKR would have to fill.

 

Key Takeaway

 

KKR’s revival begins not with new stars, but with wisely backing the right old ones.

 

FAQs

 

1: What makes Umran Malik crucial for KKR’s 2026 plans?

His raw pace is irreplaceable, and the squad lacks quality fast bowlers.

 

2: Why should KKR persist with Ajinkya Rahane despite poor domestic form?

He’s their only proven leader and was their best batter last season.

 

3: How does Rahmanullah Gurbaz fit into KKR’s long-term plans?

He fills their biggest void, a dynamic wicketkeeper who can win games in the powerplay.

 

Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.

 

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