Cameron Green in; CSK reject out: Predicting KKR's overseas players in first XI for IPL 2026

Predicting KKR's overseas players in main XI [Source: AFP Photo]

The IPL mini auction is over as all ten franchises have spent a considerable amount of money to strengthen their side for the upcoming season in March 2026. One such team that completely rebuilt its side for the next season was the Kolkata Knight Riders. The team had the highest purse of any team in the mini auction, and they bought a plethora of players.

The former IPL champions signed 13 players, out of which 5 were foreigners. KKR currently has 8 overseas players in the squad, but only four can be accommodated in the playing XI. Who will be the 4 overseas players in the main XI? here is an analysis.

KKR's overseas recruits for IPL 2026

Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Matheesha Pathirana, Mustafizur Rahman, Sunil Narine, Rachin Ravindra

KKR's combination with overseas players for IPL 2026

Finn Allen over Tim Seifert as keeper

• Last season, KKR’s biggest issue was the lack of firepower at the top, and to address this issue, KKR bought two solid keeper-openers in Tim Seifert and Finn Allen. In an ideal scenario, KKR might only be able to accommodate one out of the two players mentioned, and that player should be Allen.

(Seifert in T20Is this year)

• As the stats suggest, both the Kiwi players have done exceptionally well at the international level this year, and while Seifert has scored nearly 600 runs, Allen pips him in terms of strike rate.
• Allen strikes at nearly 212, while Seifert has a strike rate of 164 in 2025. Moreover, in the ongoing Big Bash League, Allen is the eighth-highest run-getter and has a strike rate of 200. If KKR truly wants a destructive batter at the top, they could be tempted to go with Allen, at least for the first few games.

Cameron Green to play as all-rounder

• Aussie player, Cameron Green was bought for INR 25.20 crore and there is a reason he was bought for such a hefty price. Green can play anywhere in the top 5, and moreover, if the Australian all-rounder is fit, he can also chip in with overs, which would be an added bonus for KKR. The team certainly won't make Green sit on the bench after spending 25 crores on him.

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Sunil Narine sure shot in, no place for Powell

• Sunil Narine’s inclusion in the playing XI is a no-brainer. The legendary KKR all-rounder walks into their playing XI on one leg as well. If the team plays one of Allen or Seifert at the top, Narine could be used as a finisher by the KKR side.
• This would mean that there would be no place for Rovman Powell. In the two matches that he played in the 2025 season, Powell only scored 5 runs, and had a strike rate of 100. Instead of him, the team should trust the likes of Narine and Ramandeep to do the finishing job.

Pathirana over Mustafizur

KKR invested heavily in Mustafizur Rahman and Matheesha Pathirana, the two ex-CSK pacers, but with the squad dynamism almost set, only one of the two pacers can be accommodated in the setup, and in the initial few matches, that pacer could be the ex-CSK star, Pathirana.

(KKR duo record in IPL)

• Both Fizz and Pathirana are former IPL winners, but only one can play in the side and the stats suggest that Pathirana could start in the initial few matches. He had an excellent track record for the Super Kings, and KKR could use him as a death overs specialist.

KKR's 4 overseas players in main XI - Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Sunil Narine, Matheesha Pathirana

Backup overseas players - Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Rovman Powell, Mustafizur Rahman

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