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Rachin Ravindra and...? 3 latest KKR picks who could warm the bench for entire IPL 2026 season

Sakshi Sharma

Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane (Source: AFP)Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane (Source: AFP)

After a poor IPL 2025 season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) came into the IPL 2026 mini-auction with a clear plan to rebuild. With the biggest purse of ₹64.3 crore, KKR spent heavily and made some eye-catching signings. 

However, despite the strong squad on paper, a few players might struggle to get a single game next season. Having said this, in this article, let's take a look at three players from recent signings who might not play a single match for the 2024 champions.

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

Akash Deep 

  • Akash Deep was picked up by KKR for ₹1 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction. The Bengal pacer went unsold initially but was later bought by KKR during the accelerated auction at his base price.
  • Akash Deep is known for his ability to move the new ball and trouble batters early in the innings. However, injuries and inconsistent opportunities have affected his IPL journey so far. He played only six matches for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025 and bagged three wickets at an economy rate of 12.05.
  • KKR already have a strong and settled pace attack that includes Matheesha Pathirana, Mustafizur Rahman, and Harshit Rana. In addition, Vaibhav Arora is also available as a reliable Indian backup. With so many quality options ahead of him, Akash Deep may find it difficult to break into the playing XI unless injuries force changes.

Rachin Ravindra

  • Rachin Ravindra was bought by KKR for ₹2 crore after going unsold in the first round of the auction. He can bat at the top of the order and also provide useful spin bowling, making him a like-for-like backup for Sunil Narine. 
  • However, KKR is expected to continue with Sunil Narine as an opener despite his inconsistent IPL 2025 season. Ajinkya Rahane, who is also likely to lead the side, may continue opening as well.
  • With the opening slots almost fixed, Rachin Ravindra may not get many opportunities. Unless there is an injury or a major dip in form from the regular openers, the New Zealand all-rounder could spend most of the season on the bench.

Prashant Solanki

  • Prashant Solanki was signed by KKR for ₹30 lakh in the mini-auction. The Indian leg-spinner brings controlled variations with the ball.
  • However, KKR’s spin department is strong enough with Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy leading from the front. Anukul Roy provides an additional option in spin-friendly conditions for the Kolkata-based franchise.
  • Solanki has very limited IPL experience, having played only two matches for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2022, where he picked up two wickets. Given KKR’s well-settled bowling combination and preference for experienced players, Solanki may find it hard to earn a spot in the playing XI during IPL 2026.