IPL Auction 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders Acquire Quinton De Kock For INR 3.6 Crore

Quinton de Kock, the South African wicketkeeper-batsman, has joined Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for INR 3.6 crore in the IPL mega auction of 2025. Despite his reputation for explosive batting and sharp wicketkeeping, the bidding for de Kock was not as intense as anticipated.

De Kock's journey in the IPL has been marked by ups and downs. He began his career with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013 but struggled initially, scoring just six runs in three matches. After being released, he joined Delhi, where he had an inconsistent start but shone brightly in 2016 with 445 runs, including a century.

In 2018, de Kock moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where he faced challenges, scoring only 201 runs in eight games. However, his fortunes turned around when Mumbai Indians (MI) signed him in 2019. With MI, de Kock scored over 500 runs in both the 2019 and 2020 seasons, significantly contributing to their consecutive title wins.

Despite his success with Mumbai Indians, they released him before the 2022 mega auction. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) then acquired him for INR 6.75 crore. De Kock had a stellar first season with LSG, scoring 508 runs in 15 matches, including an unbeaten 140 against Kolkata Knight Riders.

The following seasons were less successful for de Kock at LSG. In 2023, he played only four matches and scored 143 runs. The next year saw him score just 250 runs across 11 matches, leading to his release before the 2025 auction.

De Kock entered the auction with a base price of INR 2 crore after being released by LSG. Sunrisers Hyderabad initiated the bidding process and were soon joined by Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders. Although MI had previously included de Kock in their squad, they withdrew from bidding at INR 3.4 crore.

This withdrawal allowed Kolkata Knight Riders to secure de Kock for what many consider a bargain price of INR 3.6 crore. His acquisition is expected to bolster their lineup significantly given his past performances.

De Kock's ability to dominate during powerplays and maintain consistency at the top order has been crucial throughout his IPL career. His signing by Kolkata Knight Riders could provide them with a strategic advantage as they aim for success in upcoming seasons.