5 Players KKR might release ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Kolkata Knight Riders won the title recently and still face the same roster problem every champion does, i.e. money and balance. Retaining big names eats into the purse and limits flexibility, especially with the four-overseas rule. Here are five players who make sense as released candidates, why each spot is plausible, and what KKR would gain by trimming them.

1. Venkatesh Iyer

Iyer arrived at KKR with huge expectations after being bought back at a blockbuster price. In IPL 2025, he struggled for rhythm. He was used down the order and had only a handful of innings, producing far fewer runs than his contract demands. 

That mismatch of expensive retention versus underwhelming season form and a crowded batting line-up is the clearest reason to consider freeing the slot and purse for a younger Indian run-scorer or a guaranteed overseas match-winner.

2. Anrich Nortje

Nortje’s raw pace is a rare and valuable skill. But availability and impact in 2025 were mixed. KKR have several frontline seamers, and Nortje’s overseas spot is precious if he isn’t playing the full season or delivering the consistent wicket-return KKR needs. 

Cutting Nortje would be a high-risk, high-return auction play. You free an overseas slot and purse to chase a full-season bowler or buy back a different pace option later. Nortje remains a top-tier seamer but one whose club value depends on match-to-match availability, and his injury-prone body has not been helping his case.

3. Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock is a proven run-getter and a frontline keeper-batter in the T20s. Even so, KKR’s evolving top order and the emergence of younger Indian keepers/batters make his presence something of a luxury if the franchise wants to free purse for a strike batter or an extra frontline bowler. 

de Kock’s brief absences and rotation for international duty also cut into his availability, which is a practical reason franchises sometimes release even high-quality overseas players. The matches he even played in the last season were not good enough to sustain throughout the season, and he had to be swapped out. Releasing him seems like an obvious choice here.

4. Spencer Johnson 

Johnson’s left-arm quicks add variety, but IPL 2025 exposed two weak spots: his inconsistency in economy/returns and a physical fragility that teams must weigh. Johnson had useful spells but also matches where he leaked runs. He’s still early in his IPL career and, therefore, a tradable asset rather than an indispensable keeper. 

If KKR want to pivot to an Indian pace pool to shore up depth and reduce overseas dependence, Johnson’s slot is one they could realistically convert. He couldn’t really bring in the X factor in his bowling in the last season he played here.

5. Manish Pandey 

Pandey is the quintessential reliable senior pro. He’ll turn up with a sensible 30–40 when needed. But IPL retention is rarely sentimental, and franchises often prefer younger players with resale value or specialist finishers who change outcomes. 

Pandey was used as a replacement depth option in 2025 and didn’t produce the match-winning frequency to justify a purse-heavy retention. Letting him go would free a domestic slot and money to chase a batter with a higher recent strike-rate or a specialist death bowler. His role as a dependable mid-order option rather than a match-defining presence in 2025 is not helping his cause.

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