Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) entered the IPL 2026 mini-auction with the biggest purse and a clear plan. After a disappointing eighth-place finish in IPL 2025, the franchise opted for a bold reset to build a stronger squad for the new season.
KKR entered the auction with INR 64.3 crore in hand, the highest among all teams. This came after releasing nine players and trading leg-spinner Mayank Markande to Mumbai Indians before the auction day.
Letting go of big names was a tough task, but it opened up space. Releasing Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell alone freed up INR 35.75 crore, giving KKR the flexibility to rebuild across departments.
Despite the changes, KKR kept a solid core intact. They retained 12 players, including Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and captain Ajinkya Rahane, keeping experience and leadership in the dressing room.
The biggest moment came when KKR pulled out all the stops for Cameron Green. They signed the Australian all-rounder for INR 25.2 crore, making him the most expensive player of the IPL 2026 auction.
Green is expected to fill the impact role left by Russell. His ability to bat in the top order and bowl fast to medium overs gives KKR balance, something they lacked in the previous season.
KKR also focused heavily on strengthening their bowling. They brought in Matheesha Pathirana for pace at the death and added Mustafizur Rahman for control in the middle overs and at the back.
The batting unit received equal attention. Finn Allen was picked to add firepower at the top, while Rahul Tripathi returned to bring stability and familiarity to the franchise’s setup.
Rachin Ravindra adds another all-round option, especially useful on slower Indian pitches. His calm hitting and left-arm spin give KKR more flexibility in combinations.
Along with these stars, KKR invested in several Indian domestic players to build bench strength. This shows a clear focus on depth, not just a playing XI.
By the end of the auction, KKR had completed a full roster of 25 members. The final group consists of 17 Indian players and eight foreign cricketers, with INR 45 lakh still in their pockets.
Players bought by KKR in IPL 2026 auction
| Sr. Well. | Player Name | Country | Role | Basic price (€) | Final price (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron Green | Australia | All-rounder | ₹2 crore | ₹25.20 crore |
| 2 | Matheesha Pathirana | Sri Lanka | Bowler | ₹2 crore | ₹18 crore |
| 3 | Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | Bowler | ₹2 crore | ₹9.20 crore |
| 4 | Tejasvi Singh | India | Wicketkeeper | ₹30 lakh | ₹3 crore |
| 5 | Find Allen | New Zealand | Wicketkeeper-batsman | ₹2 crore | ₹2 crore |
| 6 | Rachin Ravindra | New Zealand | All-rounder | ₹2 crore | ₹2 crore |
| 7 | Tim Seifert | New Zealand | Wicketkeeper | ₹1.5 crore | ₹1.5 crore |
| 8 | Akash Deep | India | Bowler | ₹1 crore | ₹1 crore |
| 9 | Rahul Tripathi | India | Seizure | ₹75 lakh | ₹75 lakh |
| 10 | Kartik Tyagi | India | Bowler | ₹30 lakh | ₹30 lakh |
| 11 | Prashant Solanki | India | Bowler | ₹30 lakh | ₹30 lakh |
| 12 | Sarthak Ranjan | India | All-rounder | ₹30 lakh | ₹30 lakh |
| 13 | Daksh Kamra | India | All-rounder | ₹30 lakh | ₹30 lakh |
Players retained by KKR ahead of IPL 2026 auction
| Sr. Well. | Player Name | Country | Role | Retention price (₹) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rinku Singh | India | Seizure | 13 crores |
| 2 | Sunil Narine | West Indies | All-rounder | 12 crores |
| 3 | Varun Chakaravarthy | India | Bowler | 12 crores |
| 4 | Harshit Rana | India | All-rounder | 4 crores |
| 5 | Ramandep Singh | India | All-rounder | 4 crores |
| 6 | Angkrish Raghuvanshi | India | Seizure | 3 crores |
| 7 | Vaibhav Arora | India | Bowler | 1.8 crore |
| 8 | Ajinkya Rahane | India | Seizure | 1.5 crore |
| 9 | Rovman Powell | West Indies | Seizure | 1.5 crore |
| 10 | Umran Malik | India | Bowler | 75 lakhs |
| 11 | Manish Pandey | India | Seizure | 75 lakhs |
| 12 | Anukul Roy | India | All-rounder | 40 lakhs |
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