Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the reigning champions, had a disappointing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The decision to release their trophy-winning captain, Shreyas Iyer, didn’t work out as they planned. The mega auction actually worsened their side, and they finished 8th with just 5 wins.
Nothing really went right for KKR. The primary issue was their batting. Even by the end of the season, the 2-time champions weren’t sure what the right batting order was. Bowling wasn’t poor, and their all-rounders did the required. That’s why KKR must decide which players they need to retain before the retention deadline ends on November 15.
3 all-rounders KKR should retain for IPL 2026
Sunil Narine and Andre Russell have been the backbone of KKR since they joined the franchise in 2012 and 2014, respectively. Despite being past their primes, both West Indians are still among the best all-rounders in the IPL. While Russell had an average year in 2025, Narine was at his best.
| All-rounder | Type | Price (2025) | IPL 2025 stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunil Narine | Mystery spinner | INR 12.00 crore | 246 runs at 22.36 & strike rate of 170.83 12 wickets at 29.25 & economy of 7.80 |
| Andre Russell | Right-arm pace | INR 12.00 crore | 167 runs at 18.55 & strike rate of 163.72 8 wickets at 27.12 & economy of 11.94 |
| Anukul Roy | Left-arm spin | INR 40 lakh | Batted 1 ball 1 wicket at 27 & economy of 6.75 |
Without a doubt, KKR will retain them. Kolkata has three more all-rounders: Venkatesh Iyer, Moeen Ali, and Anukul Roy. Out of these, only one should be retained. Venkatesh didn’t justify the INR 23.75 crore tag, and instead of Moeen, you can get another better all-rounder like Michael Bracewell or George Linde. Anukul should be retained. He wasn’t used much last year but is a valuable backup option, especially for someone who doesn’t cost much.
KKR squad (all-rounders) ahead of IPL 2026 retention
Venkatesh Iyer, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Anukul Roy
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