The defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), are facing a tough challenge ahead of the 2025 season as three of their key players have sustained injuries.

These injury setbacks could impact Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) title defense if the players fail to recover in time.

Three Kolkata Knight Riders' players who sustained injury ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025

Rinku Singh: Team India's T20 star Rinku Singh, Kolkata Knight Riders' most reliable batter and the first player retained for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, sustained an injury before the second T20 against England. He has already been ruled out of India's next two T20 matches, and the team is awaiting the final medical report on his fitness. His absence, if prolonged, would leave a major void in Kolkata Knight Riders' batting lineup.

Venkatesh Iyer: A cornerstone of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) since 2021, Venkatesh Iyer became the fourth-most expensive player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) retained him for Rs 23.75 crore in the 2025 mega auction. Tipped as a potential future captain, Iyer suffered an injury during a Ranji Trophy match. While he bravely came out to bat after the injury, he is yet to regain full fitness, leaving Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) concerned about his availability for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Anrich Nortje: South African speedster Anrich Nortje, a vital part of Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) bowling attack, was injured during South Africa T20 League. The injury has not only ruled him out of SA20 league but also ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which precedes the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). With no clear timeline for his recovery, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faces a major challenge in strengthening up their bowling department if Nortje misses the start of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.