KKR IPL Auction 2026 Review: Kolkata bet big on Green as clarity replaces confusion, but finishing could be an issue

The two-time former champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) entered the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction with clarity and the biggest purse in the room. Armed with Rs 64.30 crore and 13 slots to fill, KKR were in control, using the auction to address the balance and role confusion that hurt them last season rather than making cosmetic changes to lure the sponsors.

The franchise spent big on impact. Aussie all-rounder, Cameron Green, who was interestingly listed as a batter at the auction pool, was signed for a record Rs 25.20 crore with a clear brief to bat in the top three, while Matheesha Pathirana has been identified as the first-choice overseas fast bowler. Mustafizur Rahman provides experienced back-up, and Finn Allen, bought at a base price of 2 crore, has been brought in to offer aggression at the top of the order.

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These decisions also reflect a clear tactical shift. Head coach Abhishek Nayar confirmed that KKR are not considering Sunil Narine as an opening option this season, signalling a move away from high-risk experimentation toward defined roles and specialists at the top. While the captain is yet to be officially announced, Ajinkya Rahane is widely expected to lead, bringing experience and calm leadership to a squad that lacked direction at key moments last year. And in all likelihood, he will open the batting alongside Allen.

Importantly, KKR also invested in the future. The additions of uncapped Indian players like 23-year-old batter Tejasvi Singh, young quick Kartik Tyagi, show that the strategy went beyond overseas stars. By the end of the auction, KKR had not just spent heavily—they had laid out a more defined and disciplined plan for IPL 2026.

KKR 2026 squad: Biggest strengths

One of KKR’s biggest strengths lies in their bowling. Death-over specialist Pathirana is set to lead the pace attack, while Mustafizur provides experienced back-up. Team India’s all-format bowler Harshit Rana adds depth and energy, giving the team multiple options across different phases of the innings. Vaibhav Arora and Akash Deep serve as quality back-up and new-ball options, while young leg-spinner Prashant Solanki adds variety alongside the experienced duo of Varun Chakaravarthy and Narine. This combination gives KKR a balanced bowling unit capable of controlling the middle overs and excelling at the death.

IPL Auction 2026: Full List of sold and unsold players

In batting, clearly defined roles and firepower stand out. The presence of Allen and Green at the top three provides the possibility of explosive starts, while Rahane offers solidity and experience in the powerplay. Experienced Indian batters like Manish Pandey and Rinku Singh add depth and consistency down the order. Young talents such as Tejasvi, Sarthak Ranjan provide flexibility and a healthy blend of youth and experience.

Kiwi batting all-rounder Rachin Ravindra is another notable addition, offering depth and variety, though he may not feature in the starting XI initially.

KKR 2026 squad: Biggest weaknesses

While KKR have several strengths, the squad does have notable weaknesses that could be exposed during the tournament. If Green consistently bats at the top three, the team risks becoming top-heavy. In the middle order, Rinku Singh is the only truly experienced campaigner, with the rest relying on players like Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ramandeep Singh, Manish Pandey and Sunil Narine. Down the order, Narine is unlikely to have the same impact with the bat as he does at the top, leaving the middle-order somewhat hollow and heavily dependent on Rinku. There is also a lack of clarity regarding a designated finisher, which could be a problem in a long tournament like the IPL.

On the bowling front, the unit is strong on paper but carries injury risks. Pathirana, Mustafizur and Akash Deep have all had fitness issues in the past. Additionally, Mustafizur can occasionally face administrative hurdles with his No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which could affect availability. These factors make the squad slightly fragile despite its overall depth.

What KKR could have done differently in IPL auction?

While KKR strengthened their top order with big-name signings, the middle order remains a concern. Over-reliance on Rinku and inexperienced players could be risky in crunch situations. The franchise might have targeted a proven Indian middle-order batter or a clear finisher to add stability and depth.

On the bowling front, investing in an additional reliable Indian pacer would have reduced dependency on injury-prone overseas options like Pathirana and Mustafizur.

IPL 2026 Auction: Players purchased by KKR 

Cameron Green (Rs 25.20 Cr), Finn Allen (Rs 2 Cr), Matheesha Pathirana (Rs 18 Cr), Tim Seifert (Rs 1.50 Cr), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs 9.20 Cr), Rachin Ravindra (Rs 2 crore), Akash Deep (Rs 1 crore), Rahul Tripathi (Rs 75 lakh), Tejasvi Singh (Rs 3 Cr), Sarthak Ranjan (Rs 30 lakh), Daksh Kamra (Rs 30 lakh), Prashant Solanki (Rs 30 lakh), Kartik Tyagi (Rs 30 lakh)

KKR squad for IPL 2026:

Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Mustafizur Rahman, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep

KKR’s predicted playing XI for IPL 2026 

Ajinkya Rahane (C), Finn Allen (WK; Overseas), Cameron Green (Overseas), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Tejasvi Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine (Overseas), Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Matheesha Pathirana (Overseas)

Impact player: Vaibhav Arora/Manish Pandey