Kolkata Knight Riders will enter the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16 with a purse of Rs 64.30 crore. The three-time IPL champions have only retained 12 players ahead of the auction, and they will enter the auction with the biggest purse. The Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise is expected to spend big bucks to secure the services of many high-profile players who will be up for grabs. Here’s a look at the five possible targets for KKR in the IPL 2026 auction.

Cameron Green will be KKR’s top target in the IPL 2026 auction. The star all-rounder missed the 2025 edition of the world’s richest franchise league due to an injury. Green can be a perfect long-term replacement for Andre Russell for KKR. (Picture Credit: AFP)

Green has played 29 matches in the IPL for Mumbai Indians and RCB and scored 707 runs in addition to taking 16 wickets. (Picture Credit: PTI)

Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana will also be up for grabs in the IPL 2026 auction after CSK decided to release him. (Picture Credit: AFP)

Pathirana has proved his worth in the IPL as a CSK player in the last three seasons. In 32 matches for the five-time champions, the young pacer has picked up 47 wickets. (Picture Credit: PTI)

Jamie Smith is another player KKR is expected to sign in the IPL 2026 auction. KKR released Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz ahead of the auction, and they need a quality WK-batter, where Smith fits the bill. (Picture Credit: AFP)

25-year-old Jamie Smith, who is England’s first-choice wicketkeeper in Tests and opens the innings in ODIs, has 1687 runs to his name in 97 T20 matches played so far. He is yet to make his IPL debut. (Picture Credit: AFP)

KKR signed Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 23.75 crore in the mega auction last year, but he failed to justify the price tag and hence was released by the franchise. (Picture Credit: Screengrab)

Despite releasing Venkatesh ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, KKR is expected to sign him back for a comparatively lower price. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)

Australia’s Josh Inglis is another wicketkeeper-batter KKR could target in the IPL 2026 auction. (Picture Credit: AFP)

Inglis impressed with his batting in IPL 2025 for PBKS. He scored 278 runs in 11 matches for the Shreyas Iyer-led side. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)