MI vs KKR, IPL 2026: Three youngsters to watch out for in Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders clash

Kolkata Knight Riders face a star-studded Mumbai Indians (MI) in the first match of both the teams at the Indian Premier League 2026 on Sunday, March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

MI have some of the biggest Indian stars in their line-up. Four members of India’s recent T20 World Cup-winning team Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah are part of MI. Former T20 World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma is also in the team and so are some big international names like Trent Boult and Quinton de Kock.

KKR have big injury worries as Harshit Rana and Akash Deep have been ruled out of the season while concerns remain over Matheesha Pathirana’s return to fitness. They will have to opt for their secondary pacers who will have their task cut out against MI.

More from First Cricket

MI vs KKR Live Streaming, IPL 2026: Mumbai weather forecast, Wankhede pitch report - all you need to know Ashwin joins MLC franchise San Francisco Unicorns: Who are Indian-origin owners Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan?

KKR will have to rely on their youngsters to pack a punch in this clash while MI too have an intriguing young bowler who can become a trump card. Here we take a look at three youngsters who can impress in the MI vs KKR clash in IPL 2026.

Allah Ghazanfar

The 20-year-old Ghazanfar is set to make his IPL debut and he is another one in the line of exciting mystery spinners that Afghanistan produce. He had joined KKR as a replacement player in 2024 but did not get a game. MI bought him for Rs 4.8 crore ahead of IPL 2025 but he could not play due to an injury. Now, he is set to play for the first time and he has the potential to bamboozle batters. He has a plethora of variations in his arsenal and could prove to be an X-factor bowler.

Kartik Tyagi

Tyagi seemed destined for big things when he impressed at the 2020 U19 World Cup. In his first IPL season in 2020 with Rajasthan Royals, he picked up nine wickets. In the second season, he defended four runs in the final over in a game to establish his credential as an upcoming superstar. However, injuries and poor form derailed his career since then. He played just six IPL games since the end of 2021 season and did not find a bidder last year.

However, he is on a comeback trail right now and with the first-choice KKR bowlers out injured, there is a possibility of him making his IPL return against MI. He has the potential to shine once again.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi

Despite being only 21, Raghuvanshi has established a regular place in the KKR batting line-up. In 18 innings so far in the two seasons with KKR, he has scored 463 runs at a strike rate of 145. 2026 could well be his breakthrough season where he further betters his numbers and play a leading role in KKR’s batting line-up. Against MI, he will be playing at his home ground at Wankhede and an impactful innings can be expected from the right-hander.