Two teams at opposite ends of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 points table, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Gujarat Titans (GT), are set to lock horns with each other in Match 39. Defending champions KKR have had a below-average season thus far, winning just three of their seven games. GT, meanwhile, have played more like a team. Placed at the top of the IPL 2025 points table, the Shubman Gill-led side has gelled like true champions.
Talking about Shubman Gill, it would be a homecoming of sorts for the ‘Prince of Indian cricket’, as he started his IPL career at the Eden Gardens with the KKR outfit. Now, he leads a solid GT team, ready to script success after a poor IPL 2024. But Gill isn’t the only current GT player who has previously been in KKR’s dressing room. There are a couple of others. In this listicle, we look at three such big players who are currently part of IPL 2025 with GT but have previously played for the Knight Riders too.
#1 Shubman Gill (2018-2021)
Here comes the biggest name on the list – Shubman Gill. It is not a secret that the talented lad started his career with KKR, who signed him up for just Rs 1.80 crore ahead of IPL 2018. Coming on the back of a wondrous ICC Under-19 ODI World Cup, Gill was touted as the next big thing.
And he played like that only. Initially, Gill had to start as a lower-order batter, a spot where he had never batted. However, Gill was soon promoted up the order. With 1154 runs, Gill still ranks among the top five highest run-scoring openers for KKR. In total, he played 58 games and made 1417 runs at an average close to 32.
However, a shocker came when KKR decided not to retain him ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. New franchise on the block, GT, pounced on the situation and signed him as one of the three draft picks for just Rs 4 crore. And since 2022, Gill has been a crucial part of the IPL 2022 champions.
He’s the leading run-getter (2014 runs) and took over the captaincy reins from Hardik Pandya last year. Gill was retained at Rs 16.50 crore ahead of IPL 2025 mega action.
#2 Ishant Sharma (2008-2010)
Veteran Ishant Sharma has represented seven different IPL franchises. However, it all started with the Black and Gold outfit for him in 2008. KKR paid a whopping 950,000 USD (Rs 8.1 crore now) in the opening season. With his long hair and express pace, Ishant was one of the most exciting pacers in the country.
However, he could never set the stage on fire for KKR. In three seasons, he played across 31 matches and managed to take 25 wickets at a strike rate of 26.4. Fast forward now, Ishant is still going strong at 36, currently part of the Gujarat outfit, who paid Rs 75 lac to get him.
#3 Prasidh Krishna (2018-2021)
Another pacer makes the list, and it is Prasidh Krishna, whose timeline matches with Gill’s at KKR. Both players were part of the franchise for four years, from 2018 to 2021. Unlike Gill, Prasidh got his first break by coming in as a replacement player for Kamlesh Nagarkoti.
However, the lanky pacer instantly showed his skills, taking 10 wickets in just seven appearances. However, his performances took a nosedive for two years before he played a key role in KKR’s run to the finals in 2021. Prasidh took 12 wickets in 10 games, finishing his tenure with the franchise with 30 wickets in 34 games, including a four-wicket haul.
After four seasons with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Prasidh found a new home at the Rajasthan Royals. The RR franchise bagged him for Rs 10 crore at IPL 2022.
Consequently, RR released the Indian international ahead of IPL 2025, with now GT bagging him for Rs 9.50 crore. He is having a magnificent IPL 2025 so far, taking 14 wickets at an economy of 7.44 despite bowling at death.
Honourable mention: Kulwant Khejroliya and Sherfane Rutherford
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