​Quinton de Kock will not return to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the remainder of IPL 2025. Initially, there was uncertainty regarding his availability, but recent reports confirm that he has opted out of rejoining the squad .​ De Kock's performance earlier in the season included a standout unbeaten 97 against the Rajasthan Royals. However, overall, he struggled to maintain form, accumulating 143 runs across seven matches at an average of 23.83. Consequently, KKR management replaced him with Rahmanullah Gurbaz as the opening wicketkeeper-batter .​ With de Kock's absence, Gurbaz is expected to continue in the opening role, potentially alongside Sunil Narine. KKR's overseas contingent remains strong, with key players like Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Rovman Powell, and Anrich Nortje confirming their availability for the rest of the tournament .​ KKR is scheduled to resume their campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 17 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. This match is crucial for KKR's playoff aspirations, and the team will rely on their available overseas talent to bolster their performance.​