The Kolkata Knight Riders made some big moves before the IPL 2026 mini auction. The three-time champions released nine players from their team after a poor performance in IPL 2025. This was a shocking decision for many cricket fans who love KKR. You can reach 96in to know more about the list of players who get released, updates, and lot more.
Why Did KKR Release Players?
KKR finished in eighth place during IPL 2025. They could not make it to the playoffs. This upset result made the team owners think hard about changes. They wanted to build a stronger team for the next season. The team management decided to let go of some expensive players who did not perform well last year.
KKR Released Players 2025-26 List
Here is the complete Kolkata Knight Riders released list with their salaries, you can use 96.in com app to know more about the players list and much more.
| Player Name | Role | IPL 2025 Price |
| Venkatesh Iyer | All-rounder | ₹23.75 Crore |
| Andre Russell | All-rounder | ₹12.00 Crore |
| Anrich Nortje | Bowler | ₹6.50 Crore |
| Quinton de Kock | Wicketkeeper-Batsman | ₹3.60 Crore |
| Spencer Johnson | Bowler | ₹2.80 Crore |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Wicketkeeper-Batsman | ₹2.00 Crore |
| Moeen Ali | All-rounder | ₹2.00 Crore |
| Chetan Sakariya | Bowler | ₹75 Lakh |
| Luvnith Sisodia | Wicketkeeper | ₹30 Lakh |
The KKR release list shows that Venkatesh Iyer was the most expensive player released at ₹23.75 crore. The team also said goodbye to foreign stars like Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, and Spencer Johnson. All these changes give KKR more money to buy new players.
KKR Retained Players 2025-26
KKR kept 12 players for IPL 2026. The team trusted players like Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, and Varun Chakaravarthy. Here is the list of retained players:
| Player Name | Role | IPL 2026 Price |
| Rinku Singh | Batsman | ₹13.00 Crore |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | Bowler | ₹12.00 Crore |
| Sunil Narine | All-rounder | ₹12.00 Crore |
| Harshit Rana | Bowler | ₹4.00 Crore |
| Ramandeep Singh | All-rounder | ₹4.00 Crore |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Batsman | ₹3.00 Crore |
| Vaibhav Arora | Bowler | ₹1.80 Crore |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Batsman | ₹1.50 Crore |
| Rovman Powell | All-rounder | ₹1.50 Crore |
| Manish Pandey | Batsman | ₹75 Lakh |
| Umran Malik | Bowler | ₹75 Lakh |
| Anukul Roy | All-rounder | ₹40 Lakh |
Ajinkya Rahane will continue as the team captain. The team also kept young players like Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harshit Rana. These young cricketers showed good skills in the last season.
What’s Next for KKR?
After releasing nine players, KKR now has ₹64.3 crore in their purse. This is a lot of money to buy new players at the IPL 2026 mini auction. The team will look for good all-rounders, fast bowlers, and wicketkeepers.
KKR needs to find a replacement for Andre Russell. They also need strong overseas players who can win matches. With so much money available, KKR can go after big names in the auction. Cricket fans can watch all the action and place bets on 96.in com, trusted platforms for IPL betting.
