File picture of Chetan Sakariya.© BCCI
The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have picked Chetan Sakariya as a substitute for quick bowler Umran Malik for the upcoming version of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Recognized for his blistering tempo, Umran, who represented Sunrisers Hyderabad from 2021 to 2024, was snapped up by KKR for Rs 75 lakhs on the public sale however has now been dominated out of the season as a consequence of an damage. Sakariya, a left-arm medium pacer, has represented India in an ODI and two T20Is and has performed 19 IPL video games, scalping 20 wickets from the identical.
The Kolkata based mostly franchise have undergone a number of adjustments forward of the 2025 season, each of their squad and training employees. Final 12 months’s title-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, was launched earlier than the mega public sale and later acquired by Punjab Kings, the place he was named skipper. In his absence, KKR has appointed Ajinkya Rahane as captain, with Venkatesh Iyer serving as his deputy.
Rahane had captained Mumbai to profitable the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy within the latest home cricket season, the place he was additionally the competitors’s highest run-getter with 469 runs in 9 matches, together with 5 half-centuries and was adjudged as Participant of the Event
The defending champions received their pre-tournament camp underway in Kolkata with a pooja ceremony on the Eden Gardens pitch on Wednesday. The teaching employees and gamers participated within the ceremony earlier than commencing cricketing actions at this historic cricketing venue. Captain Rahane and Eden Gardens’ pitch curator Sujan Mukherjee carried out the rituals as an ode to cricket, searching for blessings for an additional profitable IPL marketing campaign.
With a powerful core of gamers, skilled management, and the backing of passionate followers at Eden Gardens, KKR seems well-positioned to defend their title within the IPL 2025 season. They start their marketing campaign at residence in opposition to Royal Challengers Bengaluru on March 22.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
Subjects talked about on this article
