Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head into the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a strong financial advantage, holding INR 64.30 crore in their purse. But the 2024 champions also face a significant challenge: filling the wicketkeeper-batter slot after releasing Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz ahead of the upcoming season.
KKR have retained 12 players, including Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and others, leaving them with 13 slots to fill in the auction, including up to six overseas players.
One of the key gaps that KKR needs to fill is the wicketkeeping department. Last season, KKR struggled for starts at the top of the order, so the team decided to part ways with Quinton De Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. So the mini-auction offers a chance to address this weakness and get an impactful overseas wicketkeeper.
In this article, let’s take a look at the four wicketkeepers that KKR can target from registered players.
1. Jamie Smith Batting NoSelect 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
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RunsSelect 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
SR Select 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
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(Jamie Smith's record for England in T20I)
Jamie Smith can be one of the strongest picks for KKR as a wicketkeeper. With 1687 runs in 97 T20 matches at a strike rate of 144, Smith’s aggressive batting style fits perfectly with KKR’s need for a versatile top-order player along with good glovework.It would not be wrong to say that he can exploit Eden Gardens’ conditions with counterattacking strokes and could provide stability as an opener as well, which KKR missed last season. 2. Jonny Bairstow CriteriaSelect 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 Select 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 Select 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 Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
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(Jonny Bairstow's IPL stats)
A proven IPL performer, Bairstow has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians. Known for his explosive batting in the powerplay, he can serve as an impactful opener while also keeping wickets. His experience and consistency make him a strong target for KKR, especially as they look for aggressive starts at the top. Taking a look at his overall IPL stats, he has played in 52 IPL matches and made 1674 runs at an average of 34.87 and strike-rate of 146.07. 3. Ben Duckett Batting NoSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
InningsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
RunsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
SR Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
OpeningSelect 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 221Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 166.17Select 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 10Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 278Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 152.75Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 5Select 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 28Select 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 OverallSelect 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 527Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 153.64Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
(Ben Duckett's record for England in T20I)
Duckett is considered a reliable batter who can handle high-quality bowling attacks. With KKR’s top-order keeper position a concern, Duckett offers stability and adaptability. He could complement Rahane or even open the innings while keeping wickets, making him a practical choice for squad balance. If we take a look at the overall stats, Ben Duckett has opened 9 innings for England in T20Is. The star player has made 221 runs at an average of 24.56 and a strike-rate of 166.17. So, considering his strike rate, he can be a good pick for KKR. 4. Tim Seifert The New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter has IPL and CPL experience, having played for Trinbago Knight Riders from 2020 to 2022. Seifert can bat at the top of the order and is known for his 360-degree stroke play, providing flexibility for KKR’s batting line-up. His familiarity with the Knight Riders’ franchise structure is an added advantage. He's often regarded as an underrated player, capable of delivering significant offensive firepower at a reasonable cost.
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Ajinkya Rahane and Jonny Bairstow (Source: AFP).jpg)
.jpg?type=mq "Gambhir's 'Gill-Sky' Obsession")
.jpg?type=mq "LSG's mini auction strategy")
