Kolkata Knight Riders — Released & Retained Players 2026
Last updated: January 27, 2026
Below is the confirmed retained and released players list for Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2026 season, based on official squad announcements.
KKR Retained Players
| Player | Role | Overseas |
| Rinku Singh | Batter | — |
| Andre Russell | All-rounder | 🌍 |
| Sunil Narine | All-rounder | 🌍 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Bowler | — |
| Harshit Rana | Bowler | — |
| Ramandeep Singh | All-rounder | — |
Released Players
| Player | Role | Overseas |
| Shreyas Iyer | Batter | — |
| Nitish Rana | Batter | — |
| Mitchell Starc | Bowler | 🌍 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | All-rounder | — |
| Phil Salt | Wicketkeeper | 🌍 |
Notes
- Captaincy: To be confirmed following leadership changes.
- Strategy: Retained the core that delivered recent success, cutting high-cost auction buys.
KKR Retention & Release Strategy
Kolkata Knight Riders prioritise tactical adaptability when making retention decisions. KKR often retain players who fit specific matchup roles rather than relying solely on traditional positional labels.
Releases are commonly used to free flexibility for tactical reinforcements at auction. This enables KKR to evolve their squad structure without abandoning their core strategic principles.
Released & Retained FAQ
What does “retained players” mean in the IPL?
Retained players are those kept by the franchise ahead of the auction.
What does “released players” mean?
Released players re-enter the IPL auction pool and are free to be signed by other teams.
Can released players rejoin the same team?
Yes. Teams may buy back released players during the auction.
When are released and retained players announced?
These decisions are typically announced several weeks before the IPL auction.
Will this page be updated after the auction?
Yes. This page reflects confirmed roster decisions and official announcements.