4 Players Kolkata Knight Riders Will Retain For IPL 2026

The defending champions of the IPL 2025, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), failed to repeat the strong performance from the previous edition. Whether it’s about the bowling department or the batting department, they lacked proper planning.

Before the mega auction, they released their campaign-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, which was surprising to many fans and pundits of the game. Kolkata, under Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership, failed to take proper advantage of the batting order.

Sending Venkatesh Iyer at number four didn’t get the best of the southpaw. Also, unlike the previous season, the opening combination didn’t work out for the three-time champions. They used the range-hitting of Moeen Ali at number eight.

In the pace bowling department, apart from Vaibhav Arora, no one was able to pick up wickets with the new ball. The only sweet part of the edition for the Kolkata Knight Riders was the performance of the two premier spinners- Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.

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Before the next season’s retention, the pressure will also be on the management to highlight the performance of Andre Russell before retaining the veteran all-rounder.

Here are the four players Kolkata Knight Riders will retain for IPL 2026

1. Sunil Narine

Over the years, the shortest format has evolved a lot in various departments. But Sunil Narine’s performance for the Kolkata Knight Riders has remained consistent. In the last few seasons, he has increased his ability with the bat and contributed immensely last year in the opening position.

Meanwhile, Narine has collected 10 wickets in 11 innings at an average of 30.90 and a strike rate of 24.6. His economy rate of 7.53 has been phenomenal in this era, with the best figures of 3/13 in an innings.

The southpaw’s batting didn’t go as planned. He managed 215 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 167.96, but that’s enough for the defending champions to retain the star performer.

2. Varun Chakravarthy

The premier mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, is another regular performer for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous few seasons. In 12 innings of this IPL 2025, he has picked up 17 wickets at an average of below 20 and an economy rate of seven.

Whether it’s the need to pick wickets in the middle over or to make a breakthrough in the powerplay, Chakravarthy was the trump card for Rahane.

Meanwhile, Kolkata worked hard on the Tamil Nadu spinner's development, and they will look to get rewards for him for the next few seasons.

3. Ajinkya Rahane

Kolkata showed belief in Ajinkya Rahane to lead the franchise, and it will not be a brainer for the management to retain the right-handed batter. Rahane, coming at number, played a few superb knocks in Kolkata Knight Riders’ crisis.

In IPL 2025, Rahane smashed 375 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37.50 and a strike rate of 146.48. He celebrated three half-centuries and is also the leading run-getter of the side.

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Rahane will look to work a little more on his batting and come back stronger next year for the franchise.

4. Rinku Singh

Last year wasn’t a sweet one for the southpaw lower-order Kolkata Knight Riders’ batter, Rinku Singh. Coming in the lower order, he couldn’t add much value to the franchise.

In this IPL 2025, Rinku has done his bit with 197 runs in 10 innings at an average of 32.83 and a strike rate of 153.90. With Russell struggling for runs, it will be vital for the franchise to show trust in Rinku, who is just 27 years old.