The 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) saw Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) splash the cash in the auction, making bold moves to secure a mix of firepower and finesse. But did the big buys deliver value for money? Let’s break down how each of KKR’s high-profile purchases fared, and how much each run or wicket ended up costing the franchise.
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KKR’s most expensive buy turned out to be a massive disappointment.
With only 142 runs to his name, Venkatesh Iyer’s season translated to a staggering ₹16.72 lakh per run. Expectations were sky-high, but his returns were far from it.
One of the few success stories, Varun delivered well with 17 wickets, making each one cost around ₹70.59 lakh.
A reliable middle-over weapon, Chakravarthy gave decent returns considering the inflated price tags in modern IPL auctions.
One of KKR’s most loved players in recent years, Rinku Singh did decently but didn’t quite set the tournament alight.
His 206 runs came at a cost of ₹6.31 lakh per run. Respectable, but not exactly a steal.
Ramandeep Singh couldn't justify his ₹4 crore tag. Scoring just 47 runs, each came at a cost of ₹8.51 lakh.
A player picked for his all-round abilities, he didn't quite live up to the billing with the bat.
The biggest letdown among KKR’s bowling buys was South African speedster Anrich Nortje.
The biggest letdown among KKR’s bowling buys was South African speedster Anrich Nortje. With just a solitary wicket to show for ₹6.5 crore, it was an astonishing ₹6.5 crore per wicket a luxury price for minimal impact.
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