Kolkata Knight Riders shook the cricket world on IPL 2026 retention day with decisions that, while surprising, signal a bold new direction. The IPL 2024 champions slashed their squad from 21 to just 12 players, releasing some of their biggest names – none bigger than Andre Russell and Venkatesh Iyer. It was a move that stunned fans but also revealed a clear intention, KKR are gearing up for a major reset.

And with a whopping purse, the highest among all 10 teams – KKR walked into the IPL 2026 mini auction with both power and purpose. The auction, set for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, may be a mini one, but the stakes feel mega for KKR. After multiple changes in the support staff and a fresh approach from the think tank, the franchise knows this auction could either be a masterstroke or a melt

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