Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, Kolkata Knight Riders’ failure-filled last season seems to have triggered the beginning of a new chapter. Learning from their setbacks, Shah Rukh Khan–led management has made sweeping changes across the entire setup. From head coach to bowling coach, several new faces have joined the franchise. But the biggest surprise has come from their retention list.
আচমকাই নেতৃত্বে আসতে পারেন এই ক্রিকেটার! নাইট শিবিরে শুরু জোর জল্পনা
Caribbean superstar Andre Russell, who had been with KKR for 11 long years, has been released. The same fate has met Venkatesh Iyer, who was worth ₹23.75 crore. On the other hand, experienced Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has been retained. However, whether he will be the captain is still a major question.
According to sources inside the team, the management is not yet convinced about making Rahane the captain. If no major star player arrives from the auction, the captaincy responsibility may go to West Indies all-rounder Sunil Narine.
Last season, Narine stepped in as captain a few times when Rahane was unavailable. Not only did he handle the responsibility well, but he also performed brilliantly with both bat and ball whenever he led the side. Having been with KKR for a long time, Narine knows the team’s “DNA” inside-out. Many believe that in the current scenario, there is no one more suitable than him to take over the leadership.
What strengthens this possibility even more is Shah Rukh Khan’s special trust in Narine. So, if Sunil Narine is announced as KKR’s new captain before IPL 2026 begins, it wouldn’t be surprising.
On November 15, KKR released a total of 10 players, including Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell. The franchise now has ₹64.3 crore remaining in their purse. With this, Shah Rukh Khan’s team is ready to make a big impact at the upcoming auction. Intense discussions are underway within the camp about which players to target and who fits into the team’s long-term plans. But amid all this, the biggest talking point remains—who will be the new captain of Kolkata Knight Riders?