Kolkata Knight Riders players to retain ahead of IPL 2027

Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) opener Manvinder Bisla has identified five key players the franchise should retain ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. Speaking on his YouTube podcast, TheBallyBaazi, Bisla recommended that the management keep Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, and Finn Allen.

Bisla highlighted Narine’s immense value, noting his long-standing loyalty to the franchise since 2012 and his critical role in KKR’s three title victories. He described Narine as a cornerstone whose consistency makes him difficult for batters to face even after a decade in the league.

The recommendations come as KKR seeks to rebuild following a seventh-place finish in the 2026 season. Notably, high-profile signing Cameron Green was not included in Bisla’s list of essential players to retain.