IPL 2027 Auction could see Kolkata Knight Riders making some major changes in their squad after a mixed IPL 2026 campaign. Players like Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana, Manish Pandey, Vaibhav Arora, and Ajinkya Rahane failed to fully match the franchise’s expectations, and KKR may now target younger, impactful, and more consistent options ahead of the next season.
Cameron Green
Cameron Green was in the spotlight after the IPL 2025 auction when he was bought for INR 25.20 crore. The franchise invested high stakes in him and expected good returns, but his IPL 2026 season didn’t show that, as in the IPL 2026 season, he scored only 320 runs with an average of 35.56 and took 7 wickets.
But when a franchise invests that much amount, it expects you to be consistent and score runs at valuable times, but Cameron Green’s stats tell another story. So, Kolkata Knight Riders look forward to a much better option in the IPL 2027 Auction.
Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana is an experienced fast bowler who comes from Sri Lanka, and he was secured by KKR for INR 18 crores. His journey with the Knights hasn’t been as fascinating as KKR must have expected, as he was injured at the beginning of the IPL 2026 season, and
He played only one match before getting injured later. According to previous trends and patterns, franchises don’t invest again in players who are more prone to injuries and setbacks, and Kolkata may go with another alternative fast bowler in the IPL 2027 Auction.
Manish Pandey
Manish Pandey is an experienced Indian cricket player who has been playing cricket for over a decade. He was bought at the base price of INR 75 Lakhs by KKR in the 2025 auction. In this IPL 2026 season,
He played very few matches and scored 45 runs with a strike rate of 136.36. KKR can go with a younger option in the IPL 2027 Auction and may release Manish Pandey from the Knights arena.
Vaibhav Arora
Vaibhav Arora is a young 22-year-old Indian pacer who was seen as a prospect for the Kolkata Knight Riders, but his IPL 2026 season didn’t go as the franchise would have expected. In IPL 2026, he took 11 wickets in 11 matches, with his best bowling figures being 2/24, but his economy rate of nearly 11 and an average of 35 became a major concern for the team.
In modern-day T20 cricket, franchises expect bowlers to control runs in crucial phases, but Vaibhav struggled in that area. So, KKR may look to upgrade their pace department with a more established Indian fast bowling option in the IPL 2027 Auction.
Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane is one of the experienced figures in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad and also led the side during the IPL 2026 season. He scored 272 runs with an average of 23, and his highest score was 67. However, his performance is not the major concern for KKR, but at the age of 37+, the franchise may look toward younger and more explosive options at the top of the order.
Modern-day T20 cricket demands aggressive intent and high strike rates, so Kolkata Knight Riders could move on from Rahane and target better long-term options in the IPL 2027 Auction.
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