In preparation for the IPL 2024 season, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) underwent a major overhaul, releasing 12 players and heading into the auction with a clear focus on rebuilding their squad. The franchise, which finished seventh in IPL 2023, released key players and brought in fresh faces to strengthen their position in the upcoming season.
With a substantial purse of 32.7 crores, the second-highest after SRH, KKR aimed to address crucial gaps in their lineup. The team’s leadership saw Shreyas Iyer returning as the captain, with Nitish Rana serving as his deputy. The management’s decision to reappoint Iyer emphasized their commitment to stability and experience at the helm.
Retaining loyal players such as Andre Russell and Sunil Narine, KKR also secured the services of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, and Nitish Rana. The franchise made strategic releases, parting ways with players like Shakib Al Hasan, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, and Shardul Thakur, indicating a clear focus on restructuring.
In a bid to revitalize their performance, KKR welcomed Gautam Gambhir back as the team mentor. Gambhir, who led KKR to two IPL titles in 2012 and 2014, had a successful stint with the Lucknow Super Giants, guiding them to consecutive knockouts. His emotional return to the franchise signaled a long-term vision to transform the fortunes of the Knight Riders.
The franchise’s IPL 2024 auction strategy aimed to strengthen their Indian pace attack and fill the remaining four overseas slots. Mitchell Starc, Mujeeb Rahman, Sherfane Rutherford, and Gus Atkinson were among the notable overseas players acquired, bringing a blend of experience and talent to the team.
KKR’s focus extended to securing Indian talent with the addition of Manish Pandey, KS Bharat, Chetan Sakariya, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, and Sakib Hussain. The infusion of youth and experience in both domestic and international players sets the stage for a competitive season for KKR.
KKR Full Squad, Team List, Players List After IPL 2024 Auction:
KKR Retained Players: Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Jason Roy, Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer
KKR Released Players: Aarya Desai, David Wiese, Johnson Charles, Kulwant Khejroliya, Litton Das, Lockie Ferguson, Mandeep Singh, N. Jagadeesan, Shakib Al Hasan, Shardul Thakur, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav
Purse before the auction: Rs 32.7 crore
Players Bought By KKR:
| Player | Nationality | Type | Price |
| Mitchell Starc | Overseas | Bowler | ₹ 24,75,00,000 |
| Mujeeb Rahman | Overseas | Bowler | ₹ 2,00,00,000 |
| Sherfane Rutherford | Overseas | Batter | ₹ 1,50,00,000 |
| Gus Atkinson | Overseas | Bowler | ₹ 1,00,00,000 |
| Manish Pandey | Indian | Batter | ₹ 50,00,000 |
| K.S. Bharat | Indian | Wicket-Keeper | ₹ 50,00,000 |
| Chetan Sakariya | Indian | Bowler | ₹ 50,00,000 |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Indian | Batter | ₹ 20,00,000 |
| Ramandeep Singh | Indian | All-Rounder | ₹ 20,00,000 |
| Sakib Hussain | Indian | Bowler | ₹ 20,00,000 |
KKR IPL 2024 Complete Squad: Shreyas Iyer, Andre Russell, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Jason Roy, Nitish Rana, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Suyash Sharma, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Venkatesh Iyer, KS Bharat, Chetan Sakariya, Mitchell Starc, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gus Atkinson, Sakib Hussain.
