Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday released their list of retained players ahead of the TATA IPL 2026 Auction, opting to continue with a core group that blends seasoned performers with emerging talent. The three-time IPL champions have retained senior players Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey and Sunil Narine, along with key contributors Varun Chakaravarthy, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana and Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
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The franchise said the retention strategy βreflects its long-term philosophy of nurturing talented youngsters while relying on proven match-winners to anchor the groupβ. KKRβs retained squad includes a mix of Indian and overseas players who have contributed consistently in recent seasons.
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β KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) November 15, 2025
The IPL 2026 auction is scheduled to be held on December 16 at Abu Dhabi.
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KKR enter the auction with Rs 64.3 crore remaining in their purse and 13 available squad slots, including six overseas spots.
Retained players: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Available slots: 13 (including six overseas).
Available purse: Rs 64.3 crore.