With every IPL season, some new careers begin, some reach new heights and some even end. The IPL 2026 season will also be no different because this time too the careers of some well-known and old stars may come to an end. While all the discussion and focus is on Chennai Super Kings legend MS Dhoni, Kolkata Knight Riders is one such team, this could be the last IPL for its 3 stalwart players.

Sunil Narine

If any one player has played the biggest role in the success of Kolkata Knight Riders, then it is Sunil Narine. Sunil Narine, one of the most successful foreign players in IPL history, made his debut in IPL in 2012 and has been a part of KKR since the first season. It was during his tenure that KKR won all three titles in 2012, 2014 and 2024 and Narine took a total of 62 wickets in all three. There was talk of releasing Narine, who is now 37 years old and has played 189 matches, in the last season too but he was in the team at that time.

Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane, the current captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, entered this team at the very last moment. No one bought him in the mega auction and then in the second round, KKR finally bought him at the base price and made him the captain directly. However, the team's performance was not good and it stood at 7th position. Rahane himself played well with the bat and scored 390 runs. But due to his age of 37 years and entry of new players in the team, it seems difficult for him to play beyond this season.

Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey, who has played all the seasons of IPL along with MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, is entering the 19th consecutive season. This seems to be the last season of Manish Pandey, who was a part of Kolkata Knight Riders, who won the title in 2014 and 2024. He has been a part of Kolkata for the last two seasons but during this time he has spent most of the time in the dugout. This 36 year old veteran got to play only 4 matches in these two seasons and there is every possibility that the same will continue in this season also.