The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 auction witnessed some unexpected shuffles. Most of the franchises released their star players in order to recreate their whole squad. The defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), decided to retain their core who were crucial in the previous season.
However, there was one player who they couldn’t retain. We are talking about Phil Salt, the star English opener who was brilliant in the last season for KKR. The three-time IPL champions somehow found a better replacement for him. KKR bought veteran South African opener Quinton de Kock as Salt’s replacement.
Here are the 3 reasons why Quinton de Kock is a better pick for KKR:
1. Explosive opening batter
There is no doubt that Quinton de Kock is one of the most destructive batters in the shortest format. He has always shown intent whenever he has stepped down as an opener whether it’s for his country or for any franchise across the world. The strike rate is never a problem with him and with Sunil Narine on the other side, KKR’s top order is going to be very destructive.
2. Brilliant wicketkeeper
Quinton de Kock is a world-class wicketkeeper with tremendous technique. His quick reflexes add versatility to his wicket keeping skills. Salt was also keeping wickets for KKR in the previous season, however, this time. It would be de Kock, who has better experience in wicketkeeping than Salt.
3. Experience in IPL
The left-handed batter brings a wealth of experience to any team. KKR have many young players who are just new to the richest franchise league in the world. Quinton de Kock’s experience would definitely help them to grow as a better individual. De Kock can also help the captain to set the field from behind the wickets.
Disclaimer: This exclusive news is based on the author’s insights, analysis, and intuition. While reviewing this information, consider the points discussed and form your own conclusions.