Kolkata Knight Riders shocked everyone by releasing Andre Russell after so many years together. The KKR release list 2026 includes several big names who have won matches before. KKR enters the IPL 2026 mini-auction with Rs 64.3 crore to spend on December 16.
KKR’s Big Release List for IPL 2026
- Andre Russell
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Quinton de Kock
- Moeen Ali
- Anrich Nortje
- Mayank Markande
- Spencer Johnson
- Chetan Sakariya
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz
- Luvnit Sisodia
The KKR release list 2026 has Andre Russell’s name which broke many hearts honestly. Russell played for them for years and hit countless match-winning sixes at Eden Gardens. But his recent performances didn’t match the salary he was taking apparently now.
Venkatesh Iyer got left out after a terrible IPL 2025 season with the bat. He couldn’t find any form throughout the tournament despite getting multiple chances regularly. Quinton de Kock left the team too after playing just one season there.
Moeen Ali and Anrich Nortje also appear on the list of those let go, surprisingly enough. These overseas players cost big money but didn’t deliver what the team expected from them. The franchise needed to free up cash for the mini-auction happening in Abu Dhabi.
Mayank Markande went back to Mumbai Indians through a trade deal. The Knights didn’t sign any new players through trades unlike other teams this year.
Who Kolkata Knight Riders Keeping for the Next Season
Rinku Singh stays with KKR after becoming their most reliable finisher in tight matches. Ajinkya Rahane continues as captain and senior player providing experience to the younger guys around him. Sunil Narine remains their mystery spinner and explosive opener at the top order.
Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy and Harshit Rana all got retained for IPL 2026. These Indian players form the teams’ core going into the new season starting soon. The three-time champions trust these guys to deliver consistently again like before.
New Coaching Staff Changes at Kolkata Knight Riders
Abhishek Nayar becomes Kolkata Knight Riders’ head coach, replacing the previous coaching setup completely for next season. Shane Watson joins as an assistant coach bringing his experience from playing years worldwide. Tim Southee takes the bowling coach role to develop KKR’s pace attack better.
This fresh coaching shows Kolkata Knight Riders want a completely different approach for IPL 2026. New coaches bring new ideas that might help the team perform better overall. With Rs 64.3 crore available, they can buy quality players in December’s mini-auction.
