NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings are set to headline the bidding battles at next month’s IPL mini-auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16, boasting the biggest available purses among all 10 franchises. KKR will go into the auction with Rs 63.4 crore after parting ways with high-value underperformers Venkatesh Iyer (Rs 23.75 crore) and Andre Russell (Rs 12 crore). CSK, meanwhile, have freed up Rs 40 crore despite trading in Sanju Samson, by letting go of multiple senior names. KKR aim to significantly revamp their squad, while CSK are expected to rebuild their bowling unit — with a possible bid to buy back Matheesha Pathirana or pursue Ben Stokes, subject to his post-Ashes availability. KKR have also released Quinton de Kock, Moeen Ali, and Anrich Nortje, w

See Full Page