RETAINED PLAYERS
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KKR Retained & Released Player List [Updated], Kolkata Knight Riders Squad for IPL 2024: Reaching IPL playoffs has become a far-fetched memory for the two times IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who haven’t managed to go past the league stage in the last two editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL). KKR’s run in the IPL 2023 ended with a defeat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their last group-stage fixture and rested their case in the seventh position in the points table.

KKR had too much on their plate to address. Their batting order looked confusing besides the fast bowlers letting the team down. In the 14 league stage games during IPL 2023, KKR tried eight different opening combinations and none of them worked for them. They began with the duo of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mandeep Singh, but their last fixture featured Jason Roy and Venkatesh Iyer in the opening slot.

To add to their opening woes, KKR also couldn’t find any assistance from their big gun – Andre Russell. The Caribbean all-rounder had a timid outing in the IPL 2023, scoring 223 runs in 14 games at an average of 20.64.

Furthermore, the pace bowling unit of the two-time champion side had no potency whatsoever. The likes of Lokie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee misfired on multiple occasions. The three speedsters could pick just four wickets collectively.

However, on the brighter side, KKR managed to unearth a finisher in Rinku Singh, who took the cricketing world by storm more often than not. Rinku, who didn’t find the sweet spot in the earlier seasons, managed to muster 474 runs at an impressive average of 59.25 and a strike rate of close to 150.

In another overwhelming find, KKR got a new spin gem in the form of Suyash Sharma who was paired alongside Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine to form a mighty spin unit. The three spinners were the best performers for the team in the bowling department, scalping 41 wickets collectively in the IPL 2023.

However, ahead of the IPL 2024, KKR will have to find players who can easily settle into the side and take them out of their woes. The franchise will be after the openers and the pacers, the departments where they have struggled a lot in the last IPL. A major part of KKR’s IPL 2024 strategy will be on display as they open up their cards during the IPL 2024 Auctions.

This article will lead you through KKR Retained & Released Player List [Updated], Kolkata Knight Riders Squad for IPL 2024.

KKR Retained Player List [Updated] for IPL 2024

IPL 2024 Auction: KKR Retained & Released Player List [Updated], Kolkata Knight Riders Squad for IPL 2024
IPL 2023: Rinku & Russell Show!! KKR Won by five wickets | Image Credit: Twitter

Unlike other seasons, KKR, in the IPL 2024 Auction, would look for a major overhaul in the squad. While a majority of the players will be retained, a few of them will have their farewell, especially after not yielding enough results for the team.

The likes of Shreyas Iyer, Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, and Shardul Thakur will be on the priority list to be retained by the franchise followed by Varun Chakravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine and Suyash Sharma.

Below is the complete list of retained players by KKR ahead of the IPL 2024 Auction:

PlayerRolePriceCountry
Shreyas IyerBatterINR 12.25 CroreIndia
Nitish Rana ©BatsmanINR 8 crores(R)India
Rinku SinghBatsmanINR 55 Lakhs(R)India
Varun ChakravartyBowlerINR 8 Cr(R)India
Umesh YadavBowlerINR 2 crores(R)India
Venkatesh IyerAll-rounderINR 8 Cr(R)India
Sunil NarineAll-rounderINR 6 Cr(R)West Indies
Anukul RoyAll-rounderINR 20 Lakhs(R)India
Shardul ThakurBowlerTraded from DCIndia
Rahmanullah GurbazWK-BatsmanTraded from DCAfghanistan
Harshit RanaBowlerINR 20 Lakhs(R)India
N. JagadeesanWK-BatsmanINR 90 lakhIndia
Vaibhav AroraBowlerINR 60 lakhIndia
Suyash SharmaBowlerINR 20 lakhIndia
Kulwant KhejroliyaBowlerINR 20 lakhIndia
Aarya DesaiBatsmanINR 20 lakhIndia
Tim SoutheeBowlerINR 1.5 CroreNew Zealand
*This is a tentative list.

KKR Released Players List [Updated] for IPL 2024

IPL 2024 Auction: KKR Retained & Released Player List [Updated], Kolkata Knight Riders Squad for IPL 2024
Andree Russell | Image: IPLT20.com

In a big shocker, KKR might let go of their big Caribbean partner – Andre Russell, who hasn’t done justice to his role in the franchise for the last couple of seasons. Russell hasn’t been up to his standards in any of the departments and hence the move might come.

The other players who could be released by the KKR ahead of the IPL 2024 Auction are – Lokie Ferguson, David Weise, Shakib al Hasan, Johnson Charles, and Mandeep Singh among others.

Below is the list of players released by KKR:

PlayerRolePriceCountry
Andre RussellAll-RounderINR 12 CroreWest Indies
Lockie FergusonBowlerINR 10 CroreNew Zealand
David WeiseBowlerINR 1 CroreNamibia
Shakib al HasanAll-RounderINR 50 LakhsBangladesh
Johnson CharlesBatterINR 50 LakhsWest Indies
Mandeep SinghBatterINR 50 LakhsIndia
Jason RoyBatterINR 2.8 CroreEngland
Litton DasBatterINR 50 LakhsBangladesh
*This is a tentative list.

Kolkata Knight Riders Squad for IPL 2024

Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee, Aarya Desai, Umesh Yadav, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, N. Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya

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