KKR's release list for IPL auction OUT
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The IPL 2024 champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, might be looking forward to releasing their skipper on another occasion. Ajinkya Rahane is on the brink of being released ahead of IPL 2026.
The KKR are anyway defamed for having released their title-winning skipper, Shreyas Iyer, after they won the title in IPL 2024. KKR had also parted ways with some of their best performers in the form of Mitchell Starc and opener Phil Salt.
The defending champions, the Knight Riders, could not qualify for the playoffs on this occasion and could manage just 5 wins out of the 14 games they played in.
KKR to release their skipper ahead of IPL mini-auction
After Shreyas Iyer was released ahead of the IPL mega-auction in 2024, they picked Ajinkya Rahane, the experienced hat in the format, during the mega-auction of the competition. He was later named the skipper of the side for IPL 2025.
Ajinkya Rahane, who led them to 12 points in the league stage, was thrown out of the competition after two matches were washed out by rain. Rohit Juglan has reported that KKR are citing the release of their skipper Rahane, as he is not a natural fit into the side.
Instead, the Knight Riders would be looking forward to bringing in a new skipper in the side. They have hence targeted players like KL Rahul in the trade window, but no major development has been made over the deal.
Moeen Ali and Spencer Johnson among overseas players to be released
KKR picked Moeen Ali as the third spinner in the side, alongside players like Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine, the two seasoned cricketers. Narine, the legend, is closing in on 600 T20 wickets and 200 IPL wickets in his career.
With the two lead spinners on the side and Moeen Ali's reduced effectiveness with the bat, he is of no use to the KKR team. Instead, Spencer Johnson, the pacer who was picked in place of Mitchell Starc from the mega-auction, might also be released after the bowler faced some thrashing during his stay with the Knights.
As per Rohit Jugland, both these players are likely to be released from the squad to increase their purse and enhance their chances in the IPL mini-auction. Ramandeep Singh remains another crucial player who might be released ahead of the mini-auction.
Kolkata Knight Riders might go for Cameron Green in the mini-auction
The KKR team remains in the hunt for a middle-order batter who can also score effectively towards the back end of the innings. Cameron Green is one such player and has proved his efficiency, having done so previously for the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
Cameron Green will be a major signing option going into the mini-auction, and almost every franchise will be targeting to include him in their side. Green will be the one-stop solution to their middle-order woes as well, and can be effective with the ball at times. Green is a versatile middle-order batter who can bat in any position from no. 3 to no. 7.
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IPL Kolkata Knight Riders Ajinkya Rahane Quinton de Kock Moeen Ali Ramandeep Singh Spencer Johnson
