Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have pulled the plug on a star partnership, releasing the West Indies all‑rounder Andre Russell and eight other players before the 2026 IPL auction.
The move is part of a sweeping reshuffle that sees KKR part ways with nine players – six overseas talents and several high‑profile Indian stars – in a bid to re‑balance its squad for the next season.
Who’s leaving?
- Andre Russell – the explosive big‑hitter was paid ₹12 crore per year.
- Venkatesh Iyer – ₹23.75 crore.
- Quinton de Kock – ₹3.60 crore.
- Moeen Ali – ₹2 crore.
- Anrich Nortje – ₹6.50 crore.
- Spencer Johnson – ₹2.80 crore.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz – ₹2 crore.
- Chetan Sakariya – ₹75 lakh.
- Luvnith Sisodia – ₹30 lakh.
What’s in the retained package?
KKR keeps its core strong with:
- Rinku Singh – ₹13 crore.
- Varun Chakravarthy – ₹12 crore.
- Sunil Narine – ₹12 crore.
- Harshit Rana – ₹4 crore.
- Ramandeep Singh – ₹4 crore.
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi – ₹3 crore.
- Vaibhav Arora – ₹1.80 crore.
- Rovman Powell – ₹1.50 crore.
- Ajinkya Rahane – ₹1.50 crore.
- Umran Malik – ₹75 lakh.
- Manish Pandey – ₹75 lakh.
- Anukul Roy – ₹40 lakh.
- Arjun Tendulkar – ₹30 lakh (after a trade that sent Mayank Markande to the Mumbai Indians).
Why the shake‑up?
KKR, a three‑time IPL champion, wants fresh options for the 2026 season. They’re also capitalising on the BCCI’s extra ₹5 crore per franchise, giving them a ₹64.30 crore budget to rebuild – one of the largest in the league.
Bottom line
- Retained: 13 players, all under contract.
- Released: 9 players, including Russell.
KKR is setting a clear path forward, juggling star power with cost and creating room for new talent ahead of the 2026 auction. The next chapter of the Kolkata Knight Riders story is about to begin.
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
