IPL 2026 Auction: KKR get major Wicketkeeper Boost ahead of Mini Auction

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have made significant changes ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction, releasing all wicketkeepers including overseas stars Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, as well as Indian keeper Luvnith Sisodia.

KKR's move follows a disappointing IPL 2025 season where they finished 8th, prompting a squad rebuild under new head coach Abhishek Nayar.

KKR enter the auction with the highest purse of Rs 64.3 crore and 13 available slots, allowing them to target a mix of experienced and young players, especially aiming to fill the wicketkeeper-batter role effectively.

The release of senior overseas players like De Kock and Gurbaz indicates a focus on reshaping the team balance around key Indian talents such as Ajinkya Rahane and Rinku

Singh. Potential wicketkeepers on KKR's radar include promising domestic talents and reputed international keepers to strengthen their lineup for IPL 2026.

But amid this, the Knight Riders may have received an added boost ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. As the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy commences, Mumbai have included Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who has been named as a wicketkeeper.

Raghuvanshi is one of the retained players at KKR after they roped him in for Rs 3 crore in the mega auction. Although the young batter hasn't been a regular wicketkeeper, he honed the role in the recent T20 Mumbai League while playing for the Mumbai Falcons. And as per the recent developments, KKR see him as an option who can keep wickets in the IPL as well.

Hence, the Knight Riders may have some leeway as they look to bring in a wicketkeeper in the auction. Apart from that, the three-time IPL champions will have to search for a replacement of Andre Russell as well. The West Indies all-rounder was released after staying 12 years at the franchise, and they would require a proper signing to fill the void.