KKR players who should be released [Source: AFP]With the Rajasthan Royals officially reaching the IPL 2026 playoffs, Kolkata Knight Riders’ hopes of qualifying diminished as the Ajinkya Rahane-led side got eliminated and crashed out in the league stage. The team started slowly before picking up the pace in the second half of the season.However, despite the late effort, the team failed to deliver the goods and couldn’t reach the IPL playoffs for the second successive season. Most of the big names in the KKR squad failed and crumbled under pressure as the franchise got eliminated in the league stage. With KKR’s IPL 2026 officially over, here are the players the team might release before the next auction commences.1) Ajinkya RahaneAfter winning the IPL 2024 title, KKR made a big blunder by releasing their skipper, Shreyas Iyer. The side pressed the panic button, and bought Ajinkya Rahane in the next auction, and moreover, he was made the team captain.Under his guidance, KKR have failed to reach the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, and captaincy has also taken a toll on his batting performances, which have been underwhelming.CriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIPL 2026SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableIPL 2025SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMatchesSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table14SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table13SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRunsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table335SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table390SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableAverageSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table25.77SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table35.45SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike rateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table135.08SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table147.73SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table(Rahane in last two IPL seasons)As the number suggests, his performance has gone downhill ever since Rahane joined KKR, and the stats reveal the story. This season, the KKR opener has only scored 335 runs in 14 innings, with a strike-rate of just 135.08.The numbers were average in IPL 2025 as well, as KKR often get under pressure due to Rahane’s inability to play quicker after the power play. KKR should rebuild its squad after two disastrous campaigns, and Rahane’s release should be their top agenda.2) Matheesha PathiranaFor some reason, KKR decided to splash out 18 crores on the Sri Lankan pacer, Matheesha Pathirana, despite the pacer having a poor IPL 2025 campaign for CSK. The move raised eyebrows, but KKR was confident in his abilities.However, the decision to buy Pathirana eventually backfired as the Sri Lankan bowler could only take part in one IPL 2026 game, and on his KKR debut, he hurt his hamstring and was ruled out of the tournament.He was bought by the franchise to take part in the entire IPL 2026, but before the season commenced, he got injured, and his recovery took time as the Sri Lankan cricket board delayed his NOC.Pathirana is an injury-prone pacer, and by releasing him next season, KKR could save 18 crores, and with that amount, the franchise can buy two quality bowlers.Also Read: Ajinkya Rahane Among 2 Possible Casualties At KKR After IPL Elimination3) Tim SeifertIn the IPL 2026 mini auction, KKR invested in two quality New Zealand batters, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert. Both players were given the opportunity to grab the opening slot alongside Rahane, and while Allen grabbed it with both hands, Seifert failed.Seifert came into the IPL 2026 campaign on the back of a stellar T20 World Cup, but in the IPL, he simply failed and the stats tell the story.CriterionSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableDataSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableMatchesSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table3SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableRunsSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table19SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete TableStrike rateSelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table105.56SelectAdd Row AboveAdd Row BelowAdd Column RightAdd Column LeftDelete RowDelete ColumnDelete Table(Seifert in IPL 2026)Just 19 runs in three IPL matches with a strike rate of 105 sums up Seifert’s 2026 journey with the Knight Riders. He looked out of touch, and KKR eventually brought back Allen in the lineup, who cemented his position as an opener.Finn Allen should be KKR’s first choice opener, and there is also Rachin Ravindra waiting in the wings. Hence, the Knight Riders could look to release the other Kiwi star, Seifert.ConclusionKKR have been poor in the last two IPL seasons, and just like the 2024 campaign, the side needs a rebuild. Several underperforming players are in the squad, including their captain, Ajinkya Rahane. If KKR is planning to compete with other sides for the title, the management should look to release Rahane, Seifert, and Pathirana before the 2027 season commences.Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav Issues Fresh Injury Update Before India's Next T20I Series
