The grand stage of the IPL 2026 auction is set to take place on 16 December in Saudi Arabia. All ten teams will have their eyes on star cricketers, but naturally, the spotlight is on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Why? Because Shah Rukh Khan’s franchise is entering the auction with the highest purse ₹64.30 crore. And behind this massive financial manoeuvre lies the strategic shift introduced by their new coach, Abhishek Nayar.
নিলামে কাদের দিকে নজর শাহরুখের দলের? ফাঁস প্রাক্তন ভারতীয় ক্রিকেটারের!
Nayar’s Mindset: Build a New Team From Scratch
KKR’s list of retained players shows Nayar’s clear intention—he is walking the path of rebuilding the team. Players like Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer, once match-winners for the Knights, delivered disappointing performances in recent seasons. Their expensive contracts further burdened the team.
So, Nayar decided to “shed the weight of the past,” allowing KKR: greater freedom in team construction, more cash in the bank, and room to adopt an aggressive auction strategy.
Nayar’s Experiment in Women’s Premier League
Just before the IPL auction, Nayar worked as head coach of UP Warriorz at the Women’s Premier League auction. He released almost the entire squad and rebuilt a strong team from scratch.
The message is clear—he is likely to apply the same formula at KKR.
“Nayar Always Wants a Fresh Start,” Says Saba Karim On JioHotstar, former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim commented: “Abhishek always prefers to start afresh. We will see the same at KKR. He knows exactly which players can make him a champion. He may not go after big names, but he will target effective players.”
Karim believes that KKR’s “cut-and-rebuild approach” has already secured Nayar’s position strongly within the franchise. With a huge budget and a clean slate, the focus will now be on picking the right cricketers.
Will Venkatesh Iyer Return to KKR?
Karim hinted that KKR may correct their past mistake of buying Venkatesh Iyer for a massive ₹23.75 crore.
He said: “There won’t be much competition for Venkatesh this time. So KKR might bring him back at a much lower price.”
Who Will KKR Target?
KKR’s key priorities at the IPL 2026 auction may include:
a reliable finisher
a steady middle-order batter
a fast, express-pace bowler
a death-overs specialist
promising young Indian talents
With a fresh strategy and a huge budget, experts believe KKR will be one of the most aggressive teams at the IPL 2026 auction.