KKR 2026 Retentions: Retained & Released Players List of Kolkata Knight Riders Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
KKR release Russell and Venkatesh Iyer, trade out Markande, and enter the IPL 2026 mini auction with ₹64.3 crore.
Kolkata Knight Riders have made some of the boldest calls of the pre auction window. The franchise has released Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer, two long time all rounders who shaped KKR’s identity for years. Their exit signals a fresh start after the team finished eighth in IPL 2025.
Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, and Manish Pandey form the retained batting core. Young players like Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Ramandeep Singh stay as part of the rebuild. Rohman Powell continues as a power hitter in the middle order.
Sunil Narine stays with the team and will again be a key all rounder. Varun Chakaravarthy leads the spin attack, supported by Anukul Roy. In the pace group, Harshit Rana, Umran Malik, and Vaibhav Arora keep their places.
The released list is stacked with big names. Along with Russell and Venkatesh Iyer, KKR have moved on from Quinton de Kock, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Anrich Nortje. These exits show KKR’s plan to clear foreign slots and rebuild with a cleaner strategy.
Mayank Markande’s trade to Mumbai Indians for ₹30 lakh was their only move in the window. His exit leaves a gap in the spin unit that the team will look to fill at the auction.
The biggest talking point remains Russell’s departure. After a decade with KKR, he leaves behind a long list of match winning knocks and fan favourite moments. His form dipped over the last two seasons, and the management felt it was time to move in a new direction.
KKR now walk into the IPL 2026 auction with ₹64.3 crore, the highest purse among all teams. They are expected to chase multiple overseas options, a finishing all rounder, and at least two frontline bowlers.
The poor 2025 season has pushed the franchise into a full revamp. With money to spend and several slots open, KKR will be one of the busiest teams at the mini auction.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Retained Player List For IPL 2026
| Player | Role | Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Ajinkya Rahane | Batter | 1.5 crore |
| Rinku Singh | Batter | 13 crore |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Batter | 3 crore |
| Harshit Rana | All-Rounder | 4 crore |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Bowler | 12 crore |
| Ramandeep Singh | Batter | 4 crore |
| Manish Pandey | Batter | 75 lakh |
| Sunil Narine | All-Rounder | 12 crore |
| Anukul Roy | All-Rounder | 40 lakh |
| Vaibhav Arora | Bowler | 1.80 crore |
| Umran Malik | Bowler | 75 lakh |
| Romen Powell | Batter | 1.5 crore |
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Released Player List Ahead of IPL 2026 Auction
| Player | Role | Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Venkatesh Iyer | All-Rounder | 23.75 crore |
| Moeen Ali | All-Rounder | 2 crore |
| Mayank Markande | Bowler | 30 lakh |
| Andre Russell | All-Rounder | 12 crore |
| Quinton de Kock | Wicketkeeper-Batter | 3.6 crore |
| Luvnith Sisodia | Wicketkeeper-Batter | 30 lakh |
| Spencer Johnson | Bowler | 2.8 crore |
| Anrich Nortje | Bowler | 6.5 crore |
| Chetan Sakariya | Bowler | 50 lakh |
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Traded Player List For IPL 2026
| Player | Role | Traded From | Traded To | Price (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayank Markande | Bowler | Kolkata Knight Riders | Mumbai Indians | 30 lakh |
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL 2026 Remaining Purse
Kolkata Knight Riders now have ₹64.3 crore remaining in their purse for the IPL 2026 mini-auction
