Kolkata Knight Riders stole the limelight at the 2026 mini-auction as they spent the most money at the bidding table, having released most of their core squad members.
KKR broke the bank to sign Cameron Green for a whopping INR 25.20 crore, making the Australian all-rounder the most expensive overseas buy in the tournament's history.
With key names retained and a few smart buys completing the puzzle, the three-time champions look settled well before the season begins.
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While conditions and form will always influence final selections, KKR appear to have a clear first-choice XI in mind as they plan another title push.
KKR probable playing XI for IPL 2026
Based on retained players, trades, and auction additions, Kolkata Knight Riders’ likely playing XI shapes up as follows:
Probable Playing XI
- Rachin Ravindra
- Sunil Narine
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Cameron Green
- Rinku Singh
- Finn Allen
- Ramandeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Vaibhav Arora
- Akash Deep
Impact Player options:
- Rovman Powell (All-rounder)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (Right-hand batter)
After the auctions, Rachin Ravindra and Cameron Green's inclusion looks to have strengthened the KKR squad. Green, especially, will be a perfect like-for-like replacement for their legendary star Andre Russell, who had announced his retirement a month ago.
KKR's batting order: Power hitters dominate batting lineup
KKR boast of having some of the best hitters of the ball in the shortest format, including Rachin Ravindra, Sunil Narine, Cameron Green and Rinku. Ajinkya Rahane proved last season that he, too, is capable of hitting fiercely when his team is in need.
KKR's bowling attack: Indian fast bowlers key role
With the purchase of Bengal fast bowler Akash Deep and Harshit Rana already in the squad, KKR will have two Indian international pacers in their roster, alongside a seasoned IPL campaigner in Vaibhav Arora.
The spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Narine will further strengthen the bowling unit.
KKR's squad depth and season outlook
KKR are likely to field an all-Indian bowling attack, which means they have the likes of Mustafizur Rahman and Matheesha Pathirana sitting on the bench, which proves how strong the reserves side is.
Also, the like Angkrish Raghuvanshi as an Impact player could further bolster the batting lineup.
Related links:
- Who were the biggest gainers at IPL 2026 auction?
- IPL 2026 auction: Most expensive overseas players
- IPL 2026 auction: Most expensive Indian players