Manvinder Bisla, the former KKR opener, has outlined five players he believes Kolkata Knight Riders must not release ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. The list includes Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh and Finn Allen, all of whom Bisla considers integral to the franchise's future plans.
Bisla emphasised the importance of retaining these core players as KKR prepares for the next auction cycle. His recommendations reflect the value each player brings to the franchise's bowling attack, batting depth and overall balance.
"Look, I feel that given the way KKR have been playing for some time, having Sunil Narine is very important. Having Varun Chakaravarthy is very important. Harshit Rana is very important." Bisla said on his YouTube podcast - TheBallyBaazi.
"The evergreen Rinku Singh is very important. And then, having Allen is also very important, considering the way he performed last season. So, I feel you shouldn’t even think about letting these five players go," he added.
Narine's legacy and irreplaceable contribution
Narine's consistency and match-winning ability have made him indispensable to KKR's success over multiple seasons. The West Indian spinner has been a cornerstone of the franchise's three IPL title victories and remains one of the most difficult bowlers to read in the tournament.
Bisla was effusive in his praise for the mystery spinner, highlighting his contribution over the years for the Purple and Gold.
"If you look at his overall performance, one thing about his legacy is that he has played for the same franchise and never even thought about changing teams. And then, if you look at Sunil Narine’s contribution to all three of KKR’s title wins, it has been next level. It is very difficult to match that. So many captains have changed at KKR, so many opposition teams have changed, and so many big players have come and gone. But even now, very few people would say, ‘I can read Sunil Narine, and once I read him, I can score runs against him whenever I want.’" Bisla said.
Beyond his bowling prowess, Narine has demonstrated his value as a multi-dimensional player who contributes with the bat whenever the team requires it. Bisla highlighted this aspect of Narine's game as often overlooked by observers who focus solely on his bowling credentials.
"And he hasn’t limited himself to bowling either. Whenever the team needs him to contribute with the bat, he goes out there and does the job. A lot of people don’t realize this. People keep asking, ‘Why isn’t he opening?" Bisla said.
"Why isn’t he opening?’ But that’s just how he is. He stays in his comfort zone, and you have to push him. You have to tell him, ‘Sunil, the team needs this. If you do this, it will help the team a lot.’ Once you make it about the team, Sunil says, ‘Okay, now I’ll show you what I can do.’" he added.
Also Read: Ex-KKR star Bisla picks best-suited team for Hardik Pandya ahead of IPL 2027
Bisla's recommendations notably exclude Cameron Green, the Australian all-rounder purchased by KKR for INR 25.20 at the IPL 2026 auction, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. KKR management faces uncertainty about retaining Green ahead of IPL 2027 due to lingering availability concerns and injury issues. Green underwent major lower spine surgery in late 2024 after suffering recurring stress fractures. During IPL 2026, he was frequently restricted from bowling due to injury, forcing KKR to play him purely as a top-order batter. Cricket Australia heavily manages Green's bowling loads to prioritise national commitments and World Test Championship cycles, further complicating his availability for the franchise.