Having lost seven out of 14 matches, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) could not have had a worse possible campaign while coming to defend the elusive IPL title – something they won after a decade – in the last edition. Therefore, the Purple and Gold brigade, headed by Venky Mysore, decided to make wholesale changes among both their players and the support staff.
By releasing Venkatesh Iyer and having Andre Russell retire from the IPL, KKR signalled to everyone that they would take an entirely different approach in the years to come. Fortunately, they were lucky enough to cover most of the bases in the recently concluded mini auction.
Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2026 retention list Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy
Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2026 auction buys Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana, Mustafizur Rahman, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep
Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2026 full squad Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Rahul Tripathi, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Prashant Solanki, Matheesha Pathirana, Kartik Tyagi, Mustafizur Rahman, Akash Deep
Are KKR good enough to compete for the title again? How would they form up in IPL 2026 to make it happen? Let’s have a detailed look at it in this article.
KKR IPL 2026 Squad Analysis Top Order: Rahane back as opener to partner Narine, Green at No. 3 Having made 488 and 435 runs (in 12 matches) respectively, KKR openers Sunil Narine and Phil Salt played pivotal roles in their title-winning IPL 2024 campaign. Hence, while defending the title in the following season, they went with the same formula – replacing Salt with another overseas wicket-keeper, Quinton de Kock.
The move did not work out at all, so they brought in their alternative option – Rahmanullah Gurbaz, only to see them fail again alongside Narine.
To kick off the proceedings, KKR are still expected to keep Narine at the top once again despite multiple letdowns in IPL 2025. However, potential captain Ajinkya Rahane, who made five 30+ knocks in his last seven Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) contests – all as an opener
This would allow mighty-expensive Cameron Green to bat at No. 3 – a position where he loves to bat in the IPL.
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OpeningSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 6Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 6Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 150Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table No. 3Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 13Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 482Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 43.82Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 158.03 Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table No. 4Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 38Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table -Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 223.53Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table No. 5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 7Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 153Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 38.25Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 136.6Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table No. 6Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 3Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 20Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 20Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 166.67Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table No. 7Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 3Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 8Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table -Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 80Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
[Cameron Green IPL Stats]
Middle Order: Tripathi, 'keeper' Raghuvanshi, Rinku & Ramandeep This is the area where KKR might falter as a core. On paper, their current middle order does not frighten the opposition enough, particularly in the absence of the devil himself, Andre Russell. Usually, Russell, coupled with Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh, could tear any bowlers on their given day, but now, Rinku and Ramandeep are having a rough time, that too for a while now.
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S/RSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
2018Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 4Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 29Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 7.25Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 93.55Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2019Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 3Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 37Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 18.5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 108.82Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2020Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 100Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2022Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 7Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 174Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 34.8Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 148.72Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2023Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 14Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 474Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 59.25Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 149.53Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2024Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 168Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 18.67Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 148.67Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2025Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 206Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 29.43Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 153.73Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
[Rinku Singh IPL Stats]
In hindsight, this could be a perfect opportunity for Rinku and Ramandeep to demonstrate their true worth through greater exposure. With Russell no longer being their main man in terms of ripping bowlers apart with sheer power, this is finally the time for Rinku and Ramandeep to step up and deliver.
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2022Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 4Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 45Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 22.5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 112.5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2024Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 9Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 125Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 31.25Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 201.61Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2025Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 7Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 47Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 9.4Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 134.29Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
[Ramandeep Singh IPL Stats]
By buying back talented Raghuvanshi for INR 3 crore in the last mega auction, KKR indicated that they would not repeat the same mistake they made for Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav in the past. Adding to that, Raghuvanshi was picked as Mumbai’s wicket-keeper batter for SMAT
In fact, prior to that, Raghuvanshi kept wickets in the T20 Mumbai League as well, which makes him a serious candidate for the responsibility of the man with big gloves in the upcoming IPL edition.
Even though Rahul Tripathi could not add much value for the Chennai Super Kings, his last knock for Maharashtra in SMAT, where he made an unbeaten 44-ball 83, coupled with five sixes and as many fours, gave KKR fans hope that his homecoming could turn into others’ nightmare.
Bowlers: Harshit, Varun and two overseas duo Pathirana & Mustafizur While the KKR middle order might seem fragile overall, their bowlers, on the other hand, look sharper than ever. The additions of Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman, both of whom played under the then-CSK bowling coach Dwayne Bravo, could reward them massively and complement the ever-reliant spin duo of Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy.
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[Matheesha Pathirana IPL Stats]
While the KKR middle order might look fragile overall, their bowlers, on the other hand, look sharper than ever. The additions of Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman, both of whom played under the then-CSK bowling coach Dwayne Bravo, could reward them massively and complement the ever-reliant spin duo of Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Both after redemption Mustafizur and Pathirana have the knack of taking wickets at any stage of the innings, and pairing with Narine and Varun would increase the chances for them to make the opposition look miserable.
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2016Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 16Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 17Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 24.76Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 6.9Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2017Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 0Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 12.75Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2018Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 7Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 7Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 32.86Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 8.36Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2021Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 14Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 14Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 31.14Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 8.41Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2022Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 8Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 8Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 30.5Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 7.63Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2023Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 79Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 11.29Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2024Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 9Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 14Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 22.71Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 9.26Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 2025Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 3Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 4Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 21.75Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 7.91Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
[Mustafizur Rahman IPL Stats]
Not to forget, KKR have Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora already in the mix, coupled with Anukul Roy whenever spin-friendly conditions come up in play. Hence, even if Mustafizur, who is reportedly set to miss a few IPL matches, does not stay for every other occasion, the likes of Akash Deep and Umran Malik are waiting on the wings to find a golden opportunity.
KKR's strongest XI for IPL 2026 Sunil Narine ✈️
Impact Sub: Vaibhav Arora/Anukul Roy (depending on pitch conditions) for Rahul Tripathi.
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Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2026 auction buys (Source: AFP Photos)
.jpg?type=mq "Fizz to miss a few games for KKR")
