Image: Moeen Ali exits and Powell injured as KKR face must-win IPL fixtures / © National Herald
When the IPL 2025 season resumes, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will be grappling with major setbacks in their overseas lineup. England all-rounder Moeen Ali has officially opted out of the remainder of the tournament due to personal reasons after featuring in six matches. Meanwhile, KKR is still awaiting an update on West Indies batter Rovman Powell, who is currently in the UAE nursing an undisclosed injury.
These developments pose a significant challenge for the defending champions, who are currently sixth on the IPL 2025 points table with five wins and six losses from 11 matches. With just two league games remaining, KKR must win both to have any chance of making the playoffs. Their first fixture after the resumption is a high-stakes clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on May 17 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
To cope with the sudden void, KKR management is reportedly looking to bring in at least one replacement player. While Moeen and Powell’s exits hurt the squad’s depth, KKR may find solace in the availability of senior West Indies players Andre Russell and Sunil Narine. Quinton de Kock is also expected to join the squad, offering a much-needed boost ahead of the must-win encounter against RCB.