KKR release as many as 15 players, left with just Rs 7.05 crore to rope in domestic talents

Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 auction is set to take place next month in Kochi. After a long gap of three years, the home and away format will be making its comeback. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had set the deadline of November 15 for franchises to submit their list of retained and released players. KKR were busy before the retention list was announced and roped in Afghanistan wicketkeeper-batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz, all-rounder Shardul Thakur and Kiwi speedster Lockie Ferguson. In total, they released 15 players from the previous edition's squad. 

Here's a look at the updated squad of two-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). 
  

Released players: Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Sam Billings, Aman Khan, Sheldon Jackson, Ajinkya Rahane, Rasikh Salam, Chamika Karunaratne, Baba Indrajith, Ashok Verma, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Ramesh Kumar, Mohammad Nabi, Alex Hales
 

Retained players: Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, Anukul Roy, Venkatesh Iyer, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, CV Varun, Harshit Rana

Traded players: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson

Remaining Purse: Rs 7.05 crore
 

KKR’s run in IPL 2022
Under the leadership of their new skipper Shreyas Iyer whose services they acquired for a whopping Rs 12.25 crore, the KKR franchise did not flourish. KKR also lost the services of opener Alex Hales as he pulled out of IPL 2022. KKR did not get off to the best start and lost too many close games to build momentum. As a result, they finished seventh on the points table with six wins from 14 games which was several steps down from what they had achieved in the previous season under the leadership of underperforming batter and former England skipper Eoin Morgan.