3 reasons why KKR must buy back Rahmanullah Gurbaz in IPL 2025 auction
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chose not to retain Rahmanullah Gurbaz ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, slated to take place on November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. They retained six players - Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, and Ramandeep Singh.
After utilizing all six allowed retentions, KKR will not be able to use the Right-to-Match (RTM) card on any of their past players. As a result, they will have to engage in a bidding war with other teams if they intend to buy back their former players.
In this aspect, Gurbaz can be a key acquisition for the franchise due to his rising stature in international cricket. In just five years, the talented batter has garnered 3,477 runs and is sixth in all-time highest run-scorers for Afghanistan across all formats.
Below are the three reasons why the right-hander warrants a selection from his previous side KKR in the IPL 2025 auction.
#1 Sensational form in 2024
It has been a terrific year for Rahmanullah Gurbaz in white-ball formats. The stylish batter has scored 531 runs in 11 ODIs at an average of 48.27, with three centuries. On November 11 against Bangladesh, he hit his eighth ODI hundred and now has the most centuries (9) by an Afghan player across formats.
In the shortest format, Gurbaz has scored 493 runs at a strike rate of around 130 this year. He emerged as the leading batter in T20 World Cup with 281 runs in eight innings, as the Afghanistan side reached the semi-final stage.
#2 Perfect candidate for KKR's top-order vacancy
The Kolkata-based franchise didn't retain the services of Phil Salt, who served as the wicketkeeper and an opener for the side in 2024. Salt flashed his blade hard to slam 435 runs at a strike rate of 182.01. Salt and Rahmanullah Gurbaz will both enter the IPL 2025 auction at the same base price of INR 2 crore.
However, England are scheduled to host West Indies for a three-match ODI series from the last week of May, which is when the IPL playoffs could take place. Salt missed the IPL 2024 playoffs due to international duties, and Gurbaz stepped in his place and played a good hand by contributing 62 runs in two innings.
Hence, the dice can fall in favor of Gurbaz, who has been in good form and is known as a skilful keeper.
#3 Knows KKR's culture and shares same attacking mindset
Rahmanullah Gurbaz made his IPL debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2023 season. Although he scored 227 runs at an average of 20.63, he held a strike rate of over 130 and was helpful in the team getting fiery starts. Gurbaz's best knock of 81 off 39 came against Gujarat Titans, where he slammed five fours and seven sixes.
Although he warmed the bench during the league stage in 2024, Gurbaz rose to the occasion in the playoffs as the franchise and fans didn't feel the absence of Phil Salt. Certainly, having familiarity with the core group of players retained by the franchise, Gurbaz will feel at home with KKR.
As seen from his recent international knocks and IPL performances, Gurbaz always tries to utilize the powerplay overs and garner the most runs possible. He has that inbuilt attacking mindset, which perfectly aligns with KKR's mantra. Moreover, the right-left combination of him and Narine could bear fruit for the defending champions.