Former India player Aakash Chopra has suggested that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) should consider releasing South African pacer Anrich Nortje ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. Highlighting Nortje’s frequent injury woes, Chopra pointed out that the seamer has played very little cricket over the past few years.
KKR, the defending champions, finished eighth in IPL 2025. Nortje was one of the franchise’s major purchases in the IPL 2025 auction but featured in only two matches throughout the season.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra expressed his views on KKR’s potential player releases. He said, “The biggest release point will be Venkatesh Iyer. The big story is that they gave more than ₹23 crore, and in the end, it seemed like too much money had been spent. If they release Venkatesh Iyer, straightaway ₹23.75 crore will get released, you will get around ₹5 crore more, and you will be in a very good space.”
Chopra didn’t recommend stopping there. He added, “If you release Anrich Nortje, he is worth ₹6.50 crore. I am saying he should be released because Anrich Nortje has been a gun bowler, but when does he play? You won’t remember when was the last time you saw Anrich Nortje playing. There are too many injuries. It’s been ages since he has played.”
In IPL 2025, Venkatesh Iyer managed only 142 runs at a below-par average of 20.29 in seven innings, while Anrich Nortje picked up just one wicket, conceding runs at an economy rate of 11.85 in his two appearances.
Chopra also opined that KKR might consider releasing Spencer Johnson. The pacer was bought for ₹2.80 crore and was expected to be a replacement for Mitchell Starc, but Chopra observed, “He didn’t do anything special in the matches he played, and he didn’t get too many chances to play as well.”
On the subject of Ajinkya Rahane’s future with KKR, Chopra described the decision as a “tough one.” He said, “He is actually a good captain, but if he is not opening, a place doesn’t get created in the XI. If you keep him with you this year as well, you should make him the captain, but if you do that, will you actually do the right thing?”
Moreover, Chopra suggested that KKR might also think about releasing Umran Malik. Although the speedster was acquired for just ₹75 lakh, he did not play a single game in IPL 2025.
With several key players underperforming or sidelined due to injuries, KKR’s strategy ahead of the IPL 2026 auction will be crucial as they look to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.
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