NEW DELHI: Three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are gearing up for the 2026 auction with a fresh strategy under newly appointed head coach Abhishek Nayar, who has taken bold steps to free up a significant portion of the team's purse.
Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim, speaking on JioStar, analysed KKR's strategic release list, highlighting the high-profile exit of Venkatesh Iyer, who had been bought for Rs 23.75 crore in the previous auction.
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"There is a strong possibility that KKR may buy him back. He was released at 23 crores which freed up a huge amount in their purse and chances are high that he may not go for that much money now in the mini-auction," Karim told JioStar.
"This is a trademark Abhishek Nayar move because he always wants to start fresh. He only keeps players he feels are part of a winning combination and will be regular in the playing eleven. The rest, he buys back in the auction. I think he will build his team that way. I've always seen Abhishek Nayar work like this. So I feel the KKR management believes that maybe Venkatesh lyer has exhausted his utility, similar to how they valued Andre Russell for years," he added.
With KKR choosing not to retain Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Karim pointed out the franchise's specific targets ahead of the auction.
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"They did not keep Rahmanullah Gurbaz. That means they need an opening batter. If that player can also be a wicketkeeper, it will be good for KKR. They will have many options in the auction. They also need an explosive power hitter for the lower middle order. I think filling these two spots will be the most important thing for KKR in the upcoming auction," he added.
Iyer made a sensational entry into the IPL in 2021, amassing 370 runs in ten matches during his debut season as KKR reached the final, only to fall short against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
He replicated the same tally of 370 runs in KKR's title-winning campaign in 2024. However, 2025 proved to be a challenging year for the southpaw, as he managed just 142 runs in 11 games, including a single fifty, at an average of 20.28.
