KKR Told To Free Up More Than Rs 40 Crore By Ex-Player, Urged To Release Big Names Ahead Of IPL 2027

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) face a number of headaches heading into IPL 2027. After an eighth-place finish in IPL 2025 and a seventh-place finish in IPL 2026, the pressure is on the men in purple and gold to launch at least a playoffs bid in 2027. However, with captain Ajinkya Rahane now retired and doubts hanging over the fitness and availability of several key players, the three-time IPL champions have big calls to make before the retention deadline on November 17.

Aakash Chopra - a former India and KKR cricketer and now a reputed commentator - urged the franchise to release two heavyweight players ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction in December.

Asked to categorize his KKR's retention choices into 'Yes', 'No' or 'Maybe', Chopra put the team's two-most expensive players in the 'No' category - Australia all-rounder Cameron Green and Sri Lanka pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who cost them a combined Rs 43.20 crore.

Green was bought for Rs 25.20 crore by KKR in the IPL 2026 auction, with the potential view of being a long-term replacement for Andre Russell. While Green had a mixed season in 2026, his availability for 2027 is in doubt due to Australia's packed international schedule.

On the other hand, Pathirana, bought for Rs 18 crore, has been plagued with injuries in 2026, and bowled only eight balls for KKR in the previous season.

Chopra recommended the franchise to release both.

He also cast doubt over the KKR futures of Ramandeep Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Rachin Ravindra and Blessing Muzarabani, putting them in the 'Maybe' category.

The former KKR player showed little hesitation on the likes of Finn Allen, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh and Kartik Tyagi, putting all of them in the 'Yes' category.

KKR are yet to make any official trade moves ahead of the auction either.

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