Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are likely to keep a robust lineup for the IPL 2026 mini haven, mixing the stars with the new ones. The players that are likely to be kept are all-round match winners, finishing specialists, and young talents, who are all very important for the stability of the team and good future planning.
IPL 2026 Mini Auction: Probable Retained Players
| Player Name | Role | Notes/Reason for Retention |
| Sunil Narine | All-rounder | Spin all-rounder, multi-phase impact, KKR legend |
| Andre Russell | All-rounder | Finishing power, match-winner, death-overs impact |
| Rinku Singh | Batter | Specialist finisher, reliable Indian power-hitter |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Batter | Breakout young Indian talent |
| Ajinkya Rahane | Batter/Captain | Senior player, leadership, experience |
| Ramandeep Singh | All-rounder | Versatility in both batting and bowling |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | Bowler | Mystery spinner, wicket-taker |
| Vaibhav Arora | Bowler | Reliable Indian pacer, powerplay specialist |
| Harshit Rana | Bowler | Young pacer, pace, and aggression |
| Spencer Johnson | Bowler | Overseas left-arm pacer, variety |
| Mayank Markande | Bowler | Indian leg-spinner, domestic spin depth |
| Anukul Roy | Bowler/All-rounder | Left-arm spin and lower-order batting |
| Umran Malik | Bowler | X-factor pacer, raw extra pace |
KKR’s Team Structure and Foreign Players
-
Keeping: 13 players.
-
Foreign players’ slots remaining: 3.
-
Amount left in the wallet: Approx. ₹52–57 crore, depending on the size of the wallet.
-
There will be at least 7 slots open for strategic additions, especially for a specialist opener and a tested death-over bowler.
KKR is planning to hold on to the main players from their successful squad while at the same time releasing funds for targeting star players in the mini-auction in the roles of their choice, thus coming up with a well-balanced and competitive team in IPL 2026.
Shubhi is a seasoned content writer with 6 years of experience in digital media. Specializing in news, lifestyle, health, sports, space, optical illusions, and trending topics, she crafts engaging, SEO-friendly content that informs and captivates readers. Passionate about storytelling, Shubhi blends accuracy with creativity to deliver impactful articles across diverse domains.
