New Delhi, 13 November (H.S.): Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who failed to qualify for the playoffs in the previous Indian Premier League (IPL) season, face several important decisions ahead of IPL 2027. Following the retirement of former captain Ajinkya Rahane, the franchise will need to identify a suitable leader for the next season. Amid the discussions, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has recommended handing the captaincy to Rinku Singh, arguing that he would be a better choice than an overseas player if the franchise fails to find a suitable alternative at the auction.

During JioStar’s programme *Game Plan*, Chopra and former India batter Abhinav Mukund discussed KKR’s potential retention and release strategy, assessing the futures of several players, including Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana and Rinku Singh.

Chopra recommended releasing both Green and Pathirana, who were acquired for substantial sums at the previous auction. He questioned whether the franchise would get sufficient value from its investment in the Australian all-rounder, particularly given his potential availability during the upcoming international cricket calendar.

“I am in favour of releasing Cameron Green, who was bought for Rs. 25.2 crore. With the World Cup and the Ashes coming up, I am not confident about his availability or how many matches he will be able to play. If you release him and still want to buy him again, you could easily get him for almost 50 per cent less,” Chopra said.

He also expressed concerns over Pathirana’s availability, pointing out that the Sri Lankan pacer represented another investment of Rs. 18 crore.

“Matheesha Pathirana is also not playing, so that is another Rs. 18-crore investment. KKR could enter this auction with the biggest purse, and that will be the biggest talking point. There is also uncertainty surrounding Mustafizur Rahman. If he is available and fit to play, you would certainly want to retain him. However, we do not know whether he will be able to play. If he is available, I would definitely retain him. Releasing these two players alone would leave you with an additional Rs. 43 crore,” he added.

On the question of KKR’s next captain, Chopra strongly backed Rinku Singh, who has previously served as the franchise’s vice-captain. He pointed to Rinku’s leadership experience in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League and suggested that the responsibility could help him develop further as a player.

“Make Rinku the captain. You had made him the vice-captain, hadn't you? So, now make him the captain. He leads his team in the UP T20 League. Sometimes, you have to give players greater responsibility, throw them in at the deep end and see how they perform. This is one such opportunity, provided you do not find another suitable candidate at the auction. If there is no other option, I would genuinely prefer handing the captaincy to Rinku rather than looking towards an overseas player,” Chopra said.

Chopra also shared his reservations about Ramandeep Singh and Umran Malik, questioning whether KKR should continue retaining players who have not been getting regular opportunities.

Speaking about Ramandeep, who was bought for Rs. 4 crore, he said, “Personally, I am a little concerned about Ramandeep Singh, who cost Rs. 4 crore. He is hardly being utilised, and that worries me. If I am not going to play him and he is not performing either, should I look at another option? I understand that Rs. 4 crore is not a huge amount, but that money could be put to better use.”

On Umran Malik, whose price tag stands at Rs. 75 lakh, Chopra said the franchise should consider releasing him if it does not intend to give him playing opportunities.

“Another player is Umran Malik. Will KKR release him? He costs only Rs. 75 lakh, but he is not being played. If you are not going to give him an opportunity, then, in Umran’s interest, I would say you should release him. You feel for the boy because he has a lot of potential. Why keep him on the bench? If you cannot play him and Harshit is available, let him go and get an opportunity to play somewhere else,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abhinav Mukund recommended that KKR retain young wicketkeeper-batter Tejasvi Singh Dahiya, who was acquired for Rs. 3 crore. Mukund believes the franchise should hold on to the promising Delhi player, particularly if it manages to free up a substantial amount of money by releasing some of its expensive overseas recruits.

“I would retain Tejasvi because he is a Rs. 3-crore player. You will have a substantial amount of money available, and you may not have to compete too aggressively for players. I do not think anyone will command a price close to Cameron Green’s in this auction. Therefore, I believe you should retain these players,” Mukund said.

He further highlighted the strong demand for Indian domestic wicketkeeper-batters at previous IPL auctions, citing the high bids received by several emerging players.

“The previous auction was a good example of how much demand there is for Indian domestic wicketkeeper-batters. Kartik Sharma fetched a huge price, after which the bidding gradually declined. Players such as Salil Arora, Tejasvi Singh and Ravi Singh, who plays for Rajasthan Royals, were then in the Rs. 3-crore to Rs. 4-crore bracket. I believe KKR should retain Tejasvi, as the Delhi player has considerable potential,” he added.

The announcement of player retentions ahead of IPL 2027 is scheduled for November 17. The event will be broadcast on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar