Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stand out as one of the strongest teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, boasting a well-rounded Playing XI. The return of their former captain, Gautam Gambhir, who rejoined the franchise as a mentor, has been a pivotal factor in KKR’s positive transformation. With the mega auction looming, KKR might opt to go all out and release a few players they deem less valuable to the team. Here are five such players who could potentially be released by the franchise.
Five players KKR could release after IPL 2024
| Player | Role |
| Nitish Rana | Batter |
| Andre Russell | All-rounder |
| Mitchell Starc | Pacer |
| Manish Pandey | Batter |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | Batter |
Nitish Rana
KKR’s former captain, Nitish Rana, enjoyed a stellar season in the previous year. However, this time around, he has only played one game, scoring just 9 runs. Unfortunately, Rana did not receive another chance and was subsequently benched for the remainder of the matches.
Andre Russell
Andre Russell has been the most valuable player for KKR for decades, winning numerous matches for the team. However, the legendary all-rounder is now around 35 years old. It’s possible that, considering his age and fitness, the franchise could opt to part ways with him.
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Mitchell Starc
KKR made headlines by acquiring Mitchell Starc with the highest bid in the history of the Indian Premier League. Throughout the season, Starc has featured in seven matches, claiming six wickets. However, the Australian pacer has proven to be expensive, with an economy rate of 11.48 in the tournament.
Manish Pandey
KKR fans were eagerly anticipating Manish Pandey’s return to bat for the team. However, the right-handed batter has not played a single game so far. It’s possible that Pandey could be dropped in the next season.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Rahmanullah Gurbaz was signed by the franchise for his base price of Rs 50 lakh for the 2023 season. Making his debut for the team, he showcased his talent by scoring two half-centuries. The Afghan batter concluded the tournament with a total of 227 runs from 11 matches. But, in IPL 2024, he is yet to play a match.
