IPL 2024 champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, may be keen to release their captain at some other opportunity. Ajinkya Rahane is on the verge of release before IPL 2026.
KKR is anyway infamous because it released its title-winning captain Shreyas Iyer after winning the title in IPL 2024. KKR also parted ways with some of their best performers in Mitchell Starc and opener Phil Salt.
The defending champions, Knight Riders, could not qualify for the playoffs on this occasion and managed only 5 wins from the 14 matches played.
KKR to release its captain before IPL mini-auction
After releasing Shreyas Iyer ahead of the IPL mega-auction in 2024, they picked up veteran Ajinkya Rahane across formats during the mega-auction of the competition. He was later made the captain of the team for IPL 2025.
Ajinkya Rahane, who led them to 12 points in the league stage, was ruled out of the competition after two matches were washed out by rain. Rohit Juglan has told that KKR is citing the release of their captain Rahane as the reason why he is not a natural fit in the team.
Instead, the Knight Riders will be hoping to bring in a new captain into the team. So they have targeted players like KL Rahul in the trade window, but there has been no major development on the deal.
Foreign players to be released include Moeen Ali and Spencer Johnson
KKR chose Moeen Ali as the third spinner along with two experienced cricketers like Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. Narine, the legend, is close to taking 600 T20 wickets and 200 IPL wickets in his career.
With two key spinners in the team and Moeen Ali’s low effectiveness with the bat, he is of no use to the KKR team. Instead, fast bowler Spencer Johnson, who was chosen as Mitchell Starc’s replacement from the mega-auction, could also be released after the bowler had taken some of a beating during his stay with the Knights.
According to Rohit Jugland, both these players are likely to be released from the team to increase their purse and increase their chances in the IPL mini-auction. Ramandeep Singh is another important player who could be released before the mini-auction.
Kolkata Knight Riders can buy Cameron Green in mini-auction
KKR team is looking for a middle-order batsman who can score runs effectively even at the end of the innings. Cameron Green is one such player and he has proved his efficiency, having previously done so for Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
Cameron Green will be a key signing option in the mini-auction, and almost every franchise will be aiming to include him in their side. Green will also be a one-stop solution to their middle-order problems, and can be effective with the ball at times. Green is a versatile middle-order batsman who can bat at any position, including number one. From 3 to no. 7.
Also read: Heinrich Klaasen’s SRH party ends, other IPL teams start searching
