Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are gearing up for the IPL 2026 auction with a clear strategy to revamp their squad after an underwhelming 2025 season. With the largest purse of ₹64.30 crore, KKR has the financial flexibility to target key players and fill crucial gaps in their team. The auction is set to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16, where all 10 teams will compete to fill 77 available slots from a pool of 350 players.

Squad Analysis and Key Gaps

Following a disappointing 2025 season where they finished eighth, KKR has released several key players, signaling a major overhaul. Notable releases include Andre Russell, Quinton de Kock, and Venkatesh Iyer. Russell, who has been with KKR for 11 years, has retired from IPL and joined KKR as a power coach. The current KKR squad includes Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakaravarthy.

KKR's most pressing need is to find a specialist wicketkeeper. After releasing both de Kock and Gurbaz, the team lacks a reliable option behind the stumps. They also need to reinforce their pace bowling attack and find a suitable replacement for Andre Russell, who provided valuable all-round contributions. An experienced opener who can provide explosive starts is also high on their priority list.

Possible Targets

Several players are on KKR's radar to address these gaps.

• Wicketkeeper-Batters: KKR is expected to target wicketkeepers who can also contribute with the bat. Potential options include:
  • Jamie Smith: Known for his aggressive batting and wicketkeeping skills.
  • Quinton de Kock: A well-known option who has previously played for KKR.
  • Kusal Mendis: A Sri Lankan batter and wicketkeeper in excellent form.
  • Rahmanullah Gurbaz: Another option that KKR may consider.
  • Tushar Raheja: An explosive uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman.
  • Ben Duckett: Could be explored as a wicketkeeper option.
• All-rounders: Replacing Andre Russell's all-round abilities is a key priority.
  • Cameron Green: An Australian all-rounder who can bat in the top order and bowl medium pace. He is considered a prime target for KKR.
  • Wiaan Mulder: Another potential overseas all-rounder.
• Pace Bowlers: KKR needs to bolster their pace attack with experienced overseas bowlers.
  • Matheesha Pathirana: A Sri Lankan fast bowler known for his death-bowling skills.
  • Matt Henry: An experienced overseas seamer.
• Other Potential Picks:
  • Prithvi Shaw: Known for maximizing the powerplay, Shaw has the potential to give Kolkata nightmares.
  • Venkatesh Iyer: KKR may look to re-acquire him at a lower price.

Auction Strategy

With the largest purse, KKR has the advantage of outbidding other franchises to secure their targets. The team's strategy will be guided by head coach Abhishek Nayar, who is expected to be proactive and aggressive at the auction. KKR will likely focus on securing overseas players who can immediately slot into the playing XI and provide stability to both the batting and bowling departments. The franchise may also target Indian players who can provide support and versatility to the squad. KKR's approach suggests a willingness to invest heavily in top-tier players to build a strong and competitive team for IPL 2026.