KKR’s latest move to bring in Madhya Pradesh mystery spinner Shivam Shukla as a replacement for West Indies batter Rovman Powell signals their intent to freshen up the squad for the season’s final stretch, even though their chances of progressing further are over. Powell’s decision not to return after the IPL resumed on May 17 opened the door for Shukla’s inclusion, though the 29-year-old spinner will feature in just one match this season since KKR has already been knocked out.
Shukla impressed in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy with solid performances, taking 8 wickets in 8 matches at a tidy economy of 6.30. His standout effort came with a 4-wicket haul against Bengal in Rajkot, showcasing his potential as a crafty mystery spinner.
KKR’s campaign this season has been inconsistent. They currently sit sixth on the points table with 12 points and a positive net run rate, after winning 5 out of 13 games. Their final game is against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 25 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. The team started with a loss to RCB, had a brief moment of momentum with wins against Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, but narrow defeats, including a two-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings, dashed their playoff hopes.
With Saturday’s washed-out match against RCB, KKR became the fourth team to exit the tournament, following CSK, RR, and SRH. Now, Ajinkya Rahane and company will focus on ending their IPL 2025 campaign on a high note by going for pride against SRH.
