IPL 2026 auction: How Kolkata Knight Riders stack up
What's the story
The 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction is set to take place on December 16. More than 300 players will go under the hammer as teams look to complete their rosters. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the three-time champions, have the biggest purse remaining ahead of the bidding event. Eyeing an overhaul, they can fill in a maximum of 13 slots.
Players released
Players released and purse remaining
In a major development, KKR will be without Andre Russell in the impending IPL season. Besides Russell, big guns Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, and Anrich Nortje have also been released by the Knight Riders. Players released/traded out: Anrich Nortje, Andre Russell, Quinton De Kock, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Spencer Johnson, Venkatesh Iyer, Luvnith Sisodia, and Chetan Sakariya. Purse remaining: ₹64.30 crore (biggest).
Information
Players retained by KKR
Players retained/traded in: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakravarthy.
Strategy
Road ahead for KKR
A massive purse allows KKR to eye marquee names at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. With Russell retiring from the tournament, the Knight Riders need a potent all-round replacement. While Russell's experience is indispensable, KKR would look for someone like Cameron Green. They certainly have the room to bolster the top order, with six overseas slots out of the total 13 up for grabs.
IPL 2025
How KKR fared in IPL 2025
KKR, who won the 2024 IPL edition under Shreyas Iyer, made a surprising call to release him. While Iyer moved to Punjab Kings (PBKS), Ajinkya Rahane took over the reins of KKR. The Knight Riders fared well in phases but failed to make the playoffs. They finished eighth in the standings with five wins in 14 games, losing seven.
Information
Will Rahane lead in 2026?
As of now, there is no clarity regarding the captaincy post at KKR. While Rahane remains the front-runner, the Knight Riders could target a potential long-term captain at the auction.