IPL 2026 Auction: 3 teams that could start a bidding war for Rachin Ravindra

2. Kolkata Knight Riders

Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders are the team that could start a bidding war for Rachin Ravindra at the IPL 2026 auction. Having released Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, and Andre Russell, KKR enters the auction with a huge purse of INR 64.30 crore and clear gaps at the top and in the all-rounder department.

Despite an underwhelming IPL 2025, his performances for New Zealand, including a breakout 2023 ODI World Cup and a Player-of-the-Tournament run in the 2025 Champions Trophy, make him a reliable overseas player. His attacking batting makes him an ideal partner for Sunil Narine, while his left-arm spin abilities, alongside Varun Chakaravarthy, will make KKR's bowling attack more clinical.