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How KKR could save 40 crores for IPL 2026 mini auction by releasing 6 unwanted players

Anurag Dasgupta

How KKR can save 40 crores before mini auction [Source: @IPLT20.COM] How KKR can save 40 crores before mini auction [Source: @IPLT20.COM]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction is just around the corner, as almost a month is left for the event to take place. However, before the auction day, all ten IPL franchises will have to submit their retention list, and this would allow the sides to release the unwanted players to make way for the picks in the auction.

One of the teams that desperately needs an auction is the Kolkat knight Riders (KKR). The former IPL winners made plenty of mistakes in the mega auction, and as a result, they failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2025. Hence, the side needs to bolster their lineup for next season, and if the latest report is to be believed, then the team will enter the mini auction with a purse of 40 crores.

For that to happen, they need to release numerous players and here’s how they can generate the amount before the mini auction.

Release 23.75 crore Venkatesh Iyer

KKR pinned their hopes on Venkatesh Iyer when they bought him for a whopping 23.75 crores at the IPL 2025 mega auction. The star had previously done well for them, and the franchise believed that he could replicate the same performance, but disaster struck.

Criterion
Data
Matches11
Runs142
50s1
Strike rate139.22

(Venkatesh Iyer in IPL 2025)

  • Just 142 runs in 11 matches summed up Venkatesh’s IPL 2025 performances. KKR paid 23.75 crore for him to steer the team to the playoffs, and potentially a title, but the batter was dropped midway through the season as KKR expected more from him.
  • Hence, by releasing him, KKR will free a large chunk of their money and will get a massive boost in the auction by having 23.75 crore.

2) Anrich Nortje (6.50 crore)

For some reason, the KKR management decided to overpay the injured South African pacer, Anrich Nortje as the team spent a whopping 6.50 crore to acquire his services.

The bowler was injured for most of the season as the franchise hardly got a chance to use his skillset in the IPL. He barely played two matches and the performances was also under-par.

Criterion
Data
Matches2
Dismissals1
Economy11.86

(Nortje in IPL 2025)

  • So, KKR paid a whopping 6.50 crore to Nortje just to play two matches and pick a solitary wicket. Moreover, his economy rate was at nearly 12 runs per over as the franchise suffered a huge loss. Hence, the former champions will get a huge amount of money back by releasing Nortje ahead of the auction.

3) Quinton de Kock (3.6 crore)

KKR made another blunder in the mega auction by releasing Phil Salt, their star opener with South African batter Quinton de Kock. De Kock was a proven IPL performer, but he failed to deliver the goods for the Knight Riders, as he couldn’t give the opening start KKR wanted from him.

He could only score 152 runs in eight matches, with a strike rate of 129.91 as he couldn’t do much for the franchise, and hence, the team would free up 3.6 crore by releasing him.

4) Spencer Johnson (2.8 crore)

Not only Nortje, but Australian pace Spencer Johnson could also be released as he failed to deliver the goods in the matches that he played. He rose from consistent performances in the domestic circuit, but he failed to replicate the same for KKR as the left-armer could only take a solitary wicket in 4 matches.

Criterion
Data
Matches4
Dismissals1
Economy11.74

(Johnson in IPL 2025)

  • Moreover, he conceded runs at 11.74 per over, and the batters found it easy to tackle him. Hence, KKR would get back their 2.8 crore by releasing him.

Other notable releases KKR could make

Moeen Ali (2 crore), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (2 crore)

The franchise could also part ways with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Moeen Ali, the two players who were bought for 2 crores, but they failed to deliver the goods.

While Moeen Ali scored just 5 runs in six matches and scalped only 6 wickets, Gurbaz could only score 74 runs in five matches, with a strike rate of 139 as KKR’s top order problem led to their downfall in IPL 2025.

Purse saved after releasing these players

23.75 crore + 6.50 crore + 3.6 crore + 2.8 crore + 2 crore + 2 crore = 40.65 crore.

Hence, by releasing these unwanted players, KKR could save upto 40 crores and can rebuild the team from scratch using the money.