After a disappointing IPL 2025 campaign that saw Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) – the defending champions – finish a lowly 8th, the 3-time IPL winners are heading into the IPL 2026 mini-auction with the biggest purse in hand. But with great financial power comes even greater responsibility, and KKR’s management faces some tough calls if they want to rebuild a competitive squad for the new season.

A Big Purse, But Bigger Problems

KKR reportedly will enter the IPL 2026 auction with one of the largest purses among all franchises. However, the size of the wallet doesn’t automatically solve problems and Kolkata has quite a few. Their batting struggled last season, their bowling lacked bite in crucial moments, and several big-ticket players failed to justify their massive price tags.

The Venkate

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