On Thursday, November 13, Kolkata Knight Riders roped in Australia legend Shane Watson as their new assistant coach for IPL 2026. The Knight Riders, who finished eighth on the table last season, have already begun their preparations for the upcoming edition.
Shane Watson has little time to settle in as the former CSK star will be put straight into action, as all teams are directed to submit the final retention list by November 15. Reports suggest that KKR are looking to release several top names to create a big purse to rope in exciting talents during the mini-auction.
Now, with Watson joining the side, he too will have a say in team meetings and present a list of players that he would love KKR to target during the auction. Thus, this article will shed light on the key players that Watson would love the three-time winners to go after during the IPL 2026 auction.
1. Matthew Short KKR are looking for openers as their top-order has been a major reason for concern for the three-time winners. Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz couldn't contribute with the bat, which led to KKR's downfall in IPL 2025.
Thus, bringing in Matthew Short can help end their top-order woes. Notably, Watson also worked with San Francisco Unicorns as their head coach in MLC till 2025. The former Australia star worked with Short in MLC, and that might actually influence the Knight Riders to go for Short.
Talking about Short, he is in some fine form in T20 cricket and scored 360 runs in eight innings in MLC 2025. Further, the 30-year-old also shone against India in the 2nd ODI recently, where he slammed a fifty-plus score.
Let's compare Matthew Short's numbers recently TournamentSelect 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
AverageSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Strike-Rate Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
IND vs AUS 2025 T20IsSelect 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 51Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 25.50Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 145.71Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table AUS vs NZ 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 38Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 19.00Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 118.75Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table MLC 2025Select 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 360Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 45.00Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 164.38Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Champions Trophy 2025Select 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 83Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 41.50Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 102.47Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
2. Tim Seifert Watson has a special affection for Tim Seifert. Notably, Shane Watson's first-ever IPL stint was with Delhi Capitals when he became DC's assistant coach from 2022-23. The Capitals acquired Seifert in IPL 2023, and it was followed by a reunion with Watson at San Francisco Unicorns.
Notably, Seifert also featured for SFU in MLC 2025 and did well for the team. Thus, it is expected that Watson might also push KKR to sign Seifert, as they need a solid middle-order batter. Further, Seifert was also a part of RCB's title-winning season in IPL 2025 when he came as a replacement. However, he wouldn't be allowed to retain and will head to the auction.
Tim Seifert's performance since IPL 2025 TournamentSelect 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
InningsSelect 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
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
AverageSelect 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
Strike-Rate 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
ENG vs NZ 2025Select 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 2Select 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 62Select 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 62.00Select 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 155.00Select 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 AUS vs NZ 2025Select 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 2Select 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 52Select 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 26.00Select 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 136.84Select 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 CPL 2025Select 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 10Select 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 396Select 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 44.00Select 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 169.23Select 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 ZIM tri-series 2025Select 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 5Select 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 196Select 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 49.00Select 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 138.03Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table MLC 2025Select 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 114Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 22.80Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 106.56Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
3. Yash Dhull Another player that Shane Watson might push KKR to sign for IPL 2025 is Yash Dhull . KKR are also hunting for a new India star, and Dhull fits the bill. Notably, Watson worked with Dhull during his time with Delhi Capitals in 2022 and 23.
Further, Yash Dhull is in some fine form and also did well during the Delhi Premier League 2025. The right-handed batter scored 435 runs in just eight innings in DPL 2025 and is touted to be one of the hot prospects going into the auction.
TournamentSelect 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
InningsSelect 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
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 Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
AverageSelect 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
Strike-Rate 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
Ranji Trophy 2025-26Select 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 6Select 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 185Select 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 30.83Select Add Row 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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 103Select 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 51.50Select 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 79.84Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Duleep Trophy 2025Select 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 3Select 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 186Select 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 62.00Select 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 78.48Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table DPL 2025Select 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 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 Select Add Row 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Tim seifert for RCB - (Source: @RCBblood/X.com).jpg)
