Credit: BCCI/IPL
The Kolkata Knight Riders are one of the only few IPL sides with multiple IPL crowns against their name. Their success, prominence and journey in the IPL, both excites fans and given record keepers and critics with a lot to take note of. But it is not always that every single IPL franchise can consistently score well, play consistently to perform at a level that is staggering. Well, such a thing, though highly desirous doesn't always happen for real. Which is why in what lies ahead especially to speak of the IPL 2026 auctions, much like some of the other teams, KKR too, could be likely making changes in order to strengthen their squad and add more depth to it.
Depth that can be added by getting on board someone like KL Rahul, who is presently with the famous DC side. That being said, which are the 4 players KKR are likely to release to get KL Rahul ahead of the IPL 2026 auctions?
Here are four players KKR might release to get KL Rahul ahead of IPL 2026 auctions:
1. Manish Pandey
For someone who did really begin his famous IPL journey with a bang scoring a century not too long after making his IPL debut, Pandey's KKR stint as seen last year was far from satisfactory.
For someone who scores freely and courageously, Pandey could only make 92 runs and for some reason, was only played in three games. That's about it. Though he averaged 46 with the bat and scored a fluent 37 vs SRH, which was his last game in the 2025 edition, it wasn't made too apparent as to why he wasn't featured in KKR's playing eleven regularly.
He could definitely be released in order for KKR to bid for fresher names and important ones like KL Rahul.
Manish Pandey's IPL 2025 Stats
| Teams | Matches | Runs | Avg. | SR |
| KKR | 3 | 92 | 46.00 | 141.54 |
2. Rahmanullah Gurbaz
The November 2001-born Afghanistan batter is a talented and accomplished player when operating with the willow. An attacking batter whose intent is about as clear as his big hitting ways, Gurbaz is relatively quite new when it comes to the Indian Premier League and even as he has played just 19 games in the famous T20 league, which clearly means he is but growing still as a cricketer in this contest.
As a matter of fact the prime reason behind which the Afghan could be among the four players KKR are likely to release to get KL Rahul ahead of IPL 2026 auctions is how underwhelming a season he had in the 2025 edition.
Playing just five games and being benched for several, Gurbaz could only score 74 runs, with a top score being the 35 he made against Rajasthan Royals. 2026 might not see him with KKR.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz's IPL 2025 Stats
| Teams | Matches | Runs | Avg. | SR |
| KKR | 5 | 74 | 18.50 | 139.62 |
3. Quinton de Kock
Usually brilliant, always attacking and mostly impactful, Quinton de Kock, such a luminary of the game, was anything like his usually impressive self when it came to IPL in 2025. This is among the big reasons why his name could feature in the tally of four players KKR are likely to release to get KL Rahul ahead of IPL 2026 auctions.
He just scored 152 runs and from 8 games, with a very un-De Kock like average of 21.7, which was also sadly the lowest that De Kock has ever scored at in any of his IPL seasons.
In 8 batting outings, he was only able to cross a fifty-run mark just once and what a downer that was!
Quinton de Kock's IPL 2025 Stats
| Teams | Matches | Runs | Avg. | SR |
| KKR | 8 | 152 | 21.71 | 129.91 |
4. Venkatesh Iyer
Over the years, Iyer has risen to become a strong candidate at just about any batting position when it comes to his KKR outfit, a team that he may not necessarily be a part of should his team bid for KL Rahul instead in the forthcoming IPL auctions.
Iyer failed to impact with the bat and wasn't really all that consistent in his usually fluent ways of batting.
He scored 142 runs from 11 games and that's about that. While his nearly 140 strike rate was impressive, the runs he scored, rather not scored, wasn't anything remotely impressive. It looks as though his Kolkata franchise may opt for KL Rahul.
Venkatesh Iyer's IPL 2025 Stats
| Teams | Matches | Runs | Avg. | SR |
| KKR | 11 | 142 | 20.29 | 139.22 |
FAQs
Which player could KKR release in order to bid for KL Rahul?
It appears that Kolkata could let go of a batter like Afghanistan's Rahmanullah Gurbaz in order to bid for KL Rahul.
What is KL Rahul's current IPL team?
The great top order India batter plays for the Delhi Capitals (DC) and could head to KKR.
