What a turnaround for the Kolkata Knight Riders. After winning the IPL title in 2024 with flair and dominance, they came into this season with high hopes. But by the end of IPL 2025, those hopes had fizzled out completely. The team didn’t even qualify for the playoffs—a shocking result for the reigning champs. And just like that, the 2025 KKR team rating has become a hot topic across fan circles and cricket shows alike.

KKR Performance in IPL 2025：One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

If you followed the season closely, you probably noticed how unpredictable the KKR performance in IPL 2025 really was. Some games showed glimpses of brilliance—tight bowling performances, quickfire opening stands, but those flashes never turned into a consistent run. Instead, the campaign was marked by breakdowns in execution, sloppy middle overs, and baffling tactical decisions.

Left Arm: Batting
Right Arm: Bowling

Rinku setting standards ⚡ pic.twitter.com/2NC0HvpXR8

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 23, 2025

The biggest issue? Instability. The batting order changed almost every match, making it impossible for players to settle into roles. One week Angkrish Raghuvanshi was batting at No. 4, the next he was down at No. 9. And Rinku Singh, one of their most explosive finishers, was often sent in too late to make a difference. The ripple effect? A noticeable dip in the KKR squad rating, especially compared to the composed structure we saw in 2024.

Auction Decisions That Aged Poorly

Some of the team’s struggles can be traced back to the auction table. The release of Shreyas Iyer, who led the team to a title just a year ago, raised eyebrows, and not without reason. Ajinkya Rahane took over as captain, and while he contributed with the bat, his leadership lacked urgency and T20 fluency.

Let’s move forward 💪 pic.twitter.com/OiiHXfNx9t

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 9, 2025

There were also big swings that didn’t connect. KKR splurged on Venkatesh Iyer, hoping for a return to his 2021 form. But nostalgia doesn’t win games, and his performances were patchy at best. Letting go of Phil Salt, part of the successful Narine–Salt opening duo from last season, also proved costly. Without a stable top order, the rest of the lineup never clicked. These decisions weighed heavily on both the KKR squad rating and the overall team chemistry.

KKR Stars of the Season

Despite the mess, a few individuals stood out.

2025 KKR Top Scorers

Rahane was steady, even if not dynamic. Raghuvanshi showed glimpses of future potential, and Narine did what Narine does—create chaos up top. Unfortunately, even their combined efforts weren’t enough to elevate the KKR performance in IPL 2025 into something playoff-worthy.

2025 KKR Top Wicket Takers

KKR’s bowling was surprisingly solid for much of the season. Varun Chakravarthy was dependable, and Harshit Rana quietly had a very effective season.

But the bowling unit wasn’t used to full effect. Andre Russell, for instance, barely bowled, and their third pacer slot felt unsettled all season. That lack of balance and clarity further dragged down the KKR squad rating, no matter how promising the numbers looked.

Our 2025 KKR Team Rating

In the end, the KKR performance in IPL 2025 left fans frustrated, not just because of the results, but because of how avoidable some of the mistakes felt. Leadership changes, auction misfires, rigid tactics… they all piled up. KKR still has talent, and pieces to build around. But the execution and planning? That’s where the real work lies.

One team. Infinite memories. Thank you, Knights 💜 pic.twitter.com/GZMQxefZxy

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) May 26, 2025

So, where do we stand? Our personal 2025 KKR team rating is a 6/10. Not a disaster, but not good enough for a defending champion either. If KKR wants to stay relevant in 2026, they’ll need to do more than reshuffle players. They’ll need to rethink how they build and trust a team. Because in T20 cricket, reputation only gets you so far.