After the high of winning the IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been found wandering in the IPL. They finished 7th in the IPL 2026, with 6 wins and 7 losses, and in the IPL 2027, they will need a new captain after Ajinkya Rahane retired from all cricket recently.
KKR management will have a task on their hands as they form the list to release certain players ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. These might include both Indian and overseas players, and today we take a look at 3 such overseas players who KKR might release.
Here are the 3 overseas players KKR might release ahead of the IPL 2027 mini-auction:
3. Matheesha Pathirana
Matheesha Pathirana was a huge buy for KKR, as he cost them INR 18 crores in the IPL 2026 auctions. However, injury meant that Pathirana played only one game that season and bowled only 9 balls. He is an excellent talent and needs grooming at this stage. KKR might just release Pathirana to get him back in the auction for a cheap price using the RTM card. Pathirana has 47 wickets in 33 IPL games for CSK with the best bowling figures of 4/28, and is one of the few bowlers to take a wicket off the first ball he bowled in the IPL.
2. Blessing Muzarabani
The tall Zimbabwean pacer Blessing Muzarabani had been part of the RCB setup when they won the IPL 2025 but played 2 games for KKR in IPL 2026, taking 4 wickets at an economy of 10.71. His economy was the reason that, despite taking four wickets, Muzarabani only played two games, and it seems unlikely that KKR will retain him and instead can bring in some other overseas pacers during the IPL 2027 auction.
1. Rachin Ravindra
New Zealand spin all-rounder Rachin Ravindra was also an expensive buy for KKR in the IPL 2026 auction. However, he missed the entire season due to an injury. It remains to be seen if KKR retains Ravindra, as he solves their top-order problem and gives them an extra spin option. Talking about his T20 record, Ravindra has scored 2477 runs and taken 96 wickets in 147 games.
