Quinton de Kock Returns to Kolkata Knight Riders Ahead of IPL Resumption

Quinton de Kock's Comeback

In New Delhi, it has been confirmed that South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock will rejoin the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad in Bengaluru on Thursday. This comes just ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, which is set to resume on May 17. Initially, there were doubts regarding de Kock's participation in the tournament, but he has now confirmed his availability for the remainder of the season. KKR's first match back will be against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday.

As reported, several overseas players, including left-arm fast bowler Spencer Johnson, have also confirmed their return to India. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had previously suspended the tournament for a week due to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

KKR's Caribbean contingent, including Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Rovman Powell, and team mentor Dwayne Bravo, had been in Dubai during the suspension. Narine and Russell are expected to arrive in Bengaluru on Wednesday afternoon after taking a flight from Dubai. Additionally, South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje will join the team from the Maldives.

KKR's Indian players and support staff are scheduled to arrive in Bengaluru in batches on Wednesday evening. The defending champions find themselves in a challenging position, currently sitting seventh in the standings and relying on mathematical possibilities to secure a playoff spot. With 11 points, KKR's upcoming matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are crucial for their title defense.

If KKR manages to win both matches, they will reach 15 points and will need favorable outcomes in other matches to keep their championship hopes alive. For their match against Bengaluru, KKR plans to conduct two training sessions at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday and Friday evening.