Rahmanullah Gurbaz KKR, IPL 2025: There are not too many consistent overseas wicketkeeper-batsmen in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the last season, KKR had two foreign wicketkeeper-batsmen: England’s Phil Salt and Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz. KS Bharat was there, but mostly as a reserve bench player. Recently, a video sparked speculations before October 31. All ten IPL franchises have to announce which cricketers they have decided to retain. KKR won their third IPL title in the last season, so cricket fans are waiting to know whom they want to keep with them for another season.
According to some reports, the Kolkata Knight Riders can retain Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Harshit Rana, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, and may be Shreyas Iyer. But yet no information about the young Afghan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Now a video surfaced in social media platforms, showing Gurbaz and KKR boss Shah Rukh Khan have met and hugged each other with a little conversation. According to the BCCI rule, every franchise can retain a maximum number of six players, including with the RTM (Right to Match) rule.
A mega auction is to be held after the announcements of player retention by ten IPL franchises. During the Mega Auction, every franchise will have chances to onboard their favourite cricketers into their squad. No doubt, Gurbaz can be a useful batter and wicketkeeper whenever the team needs his service. So, if KKR do not retain Gurbaz, then they will have a chance to bid for him in the auction house. Gurbaz has shown some improvements with his IPL batting stats in IPL 2024.
The right-handed top order and wicketkeeper batsman played as a regular player for Kolkata Knight Riders. In 2023, Gurbaz played a total of 11 matches and hit two half centuries for the Purple Brigade. Though his batting average was quite low, only 20.63 against his name. His highest score was 81 against the Gujarat Titans.
Next season, Gurbaz failed to maintain his spot in KKR’s first XI, as Phil Salt was doing his job well. Gurbaz played only three matches in IPL 2024, with an improved average of 31.00.