3 Players KKR released and might already be regretting

IPL 2026 turned out to be a classic case of "what might have been" for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The franchise endured a six-match winless streak before finally registering its first victory on April 19 against Rajasthan Royals at Eden Gardens.

Although KKR gathered momentum towards the latter stages of the tournament, they failed to sustain it when it mattered most and ultimately missed out on a playoff berth. Several factors contributed to their disappointing campaign, including the absence of Mustafizur Rahman and Matheesha Pathirana for most of the season. However, one of the biggest reasons behind their struggles was the decision to release several key players following their triumphant IPL 2024 campaign.

Here are three players KKR released and might already be regretting:

#1 Shreyas Iyer

With all due respect to Ajinkya Rahane and his leadership abilities, he could not match the standards set by Shreyas Iyer during his stint with KKR. Under Iyer's captaincy, KKR went all the way and clinched the IPL 2024 title, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by eight wickets in the final.

Letting go of Shreyas after such a historic season proved to be a decision that came back to haunt KKR, as they failed to finish inside the top five in the two seasons that followed.

#2 Venkatesh Iyer

KKR had retained Venkatesh Iyer for a whopping INR 23.75 crore ahead of IPL 2025. However, the all-rounder failed to justify the hefty price tag, scoring just 142 runs at a strike rate of 139.21.

Disappointed by his performances, KKR released Venkatesh ahead of IPL 2026, only to see the decision backfire. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) took a chance on him, signing him for INR 7 crore, and the left-hander delivered in style.

In just six innings, Venkatesh amassed 209 runs at an average of 52.25 and a blistering strike rate of 186.60. He played a crucial role in guiding RCB to a second consecutive title, leaving KKR with plenty to ponder.

#3 Mitchell Starc

Mitchell Starc attracted plenty of criticism during the league stage of IPL 2024 after failing to live up to his INR 24.75 crore price tag. However, the Australian pacer turned things around during the playoffs and justified the investment.

Starc produced match-winning figures of 3/34 in Qualifier 1 against Sunrisers Hyderabad and was named Player of the Match in KKR's eight-wicket victory. He then struck crucial blows in the final, dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi while returning figures of 2/14 from three overs to dismantle SRH's batting lineup.

The result mirrored Qualifier 1, with KKR clinching their third IPL title. However, to everyone's surprise, the franchise released Starc ahead of the following season.

Had Starc remained part of the KKR setup in IPL 2026, the team may not have felt the absence of Pathirana and Mustafizur as acutely as they eventually did.