IPL 2025: 3 best opening combinations for Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane can try
A good opening combination has played a huge role in the success of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL and that was evident during IPL 2024 as the duo of Phil Salt & Sunil Narine formed a formidable opening pair and wrecked havoc with the bat.
The Southpaw had an absolute monstrous season with the bat as an opener, scoring 488 runs which is also his highest run tally with the bat in the tournament and he also went to smack his first ever T20 hundred. His English partner, on the other hand, proved to be the perfect partner as he amassed 435 runs at a blistering strike rate of 182.01 and an amazing average of 39.55.
Together, they scored 559 runs and were the third-best opening pair in the league in the previous season. Now, ahead of the 2025 edition of the cash rich T20 league, the dangerous opening pair of Salt & Narine have been seperated from each other as the 28-year-old has joined rivals Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for a massive price tag of 11.50 crore Indian rupees.
The Kolkata-based team did manage to retain the services of explosive Afghanistan wicketkeeper batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had replaced the English player in the team for the playoffs of last season and he did well with the bat as he played an important role in helping his side lift their third IPL trophy.
They also secured the services of experienced South African wicket-keeper batsman Quinton De Kock in the mega auction, who has scored more than 3,000 runs in the IPL.
The franchise also went ahead and named Ajinkya Rahane as their skipper for the IPL 2025 season after the departure of Shreyas Iyer to the Punjab Kings. With a new captain at helm and the franchise looking to lift their fourth IPL Trophy, a good opening combination will once again be necessary, let's take a look at their best possible opening combinations ahead of IPL 2025.
IPL 2025: 3 best opening combinations KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane can try
3.Sunil Narine and Venkatesh Iyer
The Kolkata Knight Riders placed a huge bet on star player Venkatesh Iyer for IPL 2025 as they secured his services for the next three IPL seasons by paying a huge amount of 23.75 crore Indian Rupees. Their think tank sees something special in the player and they wouldn't invest such a big amount without any reason.
The 30-year-old is a good middle-order batter as well as an amazing opening batter for the franchise. He has opened the innings many times for the four times winners and had a prolific 2021 season as an opening batter.
He smashed 370 runs at an average of 41 and a good strike rate of 129 as he played an important role in helping his team reach the finals. He won the man-of-the match award after playing a good knock of 55 runs in the second qualifier and he followed this up with another fifty in the final versus CSK.
Alongside Shubman Gill, his opening partner, the Southpaw got involved in an opening stand of 91 runs but it went in vain as CSK defeated KKR in the final.
Nevertheless, he has a good opportunity of opening the innings for the three time winners this time around, as he can replace Salt at the top of the order and with Sunil Narine by his side, there's no denying how dangerous this pair can be.
2.Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sunil Narine
After the departure of Phil Salt in IPL last year, Rahmanullah Gurbaz along with Sunil Narine took up the responsibility of opening for KKR. Sunil Narine is considered to be an expert in dangerous batting, while if we talk about Afghan batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz, he is also a brilliant batsman and has made a name for himself with his opening batting.
The Afghan batter was impressive in the limited number of opportunities he got as he helped his side get off to good starts in the playoffs and helped them lift the IPL trophy for the third time.
While the pair of Narine & Gurbaz didn't get much playing time together, that situation might change this time around as the team management are on the lookout of a suitable replacement for Salt and Gurbaz might prove to be the perfect replacement for him.
1. Sunil Narine and Quinton De Kock
The best and strongest pair in the opening combination for Kolkata Knight Riders can be considered to be Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine.
On one hand, South Africa's star wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock has tremendous experience of opening in international cricket as well as various T20 leagues, while on the other hand, Sunil Narine has impressed everyone with his opening start in IPL. If this pair is on the field, then the problems of the opposing bowling are sure to increase.
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