{"id":"f-ad3a1c0981-7ce6826c-682c-5d67-9f1c-1574da61b5d4","title":"KKR Best Playing 11: Kolkata Knight Riders Strongest Lineup, Impact Player Options in IPL 2026","description":"Following the IPL 2026 auction held on December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, Kolkata Knight Riders have assembled a formidable squad. Entering the auction with the largest purse and most slots to fill, KKR made bold moves, splashing big on Australian","timestamp":1766129400,"category":"sports","headline":"KKR Best Playing 11: Kolkata Knight Riders Strongest Lineup, Impact Player Options in IPL 2026","modifiedHeadline":"Perfect mix! KKR's probable XI looks deadly again","subCategories":["scid_185ed133"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"6ff0e53c-03a9-4fac-a199-00040694f01a","bundleTitle":"Indian Cricket","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"491","fcSummary":"Kolkata Knight Riders have built a strong squad for IPL 2026, acquiring Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana in the auction. Retaining key players, they aim for an explosive start, stable middle order, and lethal bowling attack with depth and flexibility.","summary":"KKR’s probable XI for IPL 2026 looks lethal, blending experience and talent, making them a strong contender to dominate the upcoming season.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/Sports/IN/en/mykhel-english/f-ad3a1c0981-7ce6826c-682c-5d67-9f1c-1574da61b5d4","sourceUrl":"https://www.mykhel.com/cricket/kkr-best-playing-11-kolkata-knight-riders-strongest-lineup-impact-player-in-ipl-2026-402185.html","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/om1xF-SVc220.webp","content":"

Following the IPL 2026 auction held on December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, Kolkata Knight Riders have assembled a formidable squad.

Entering the auction with

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the largest purse and most slots to fill, KKR made bold moves, splashing big on Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and Sri Lankan pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana, while adding depth with talents like Rachin Ravindra, Finn Allen, and Mustafizur Rahman.

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Retaining a solid core including the experienced Ajinkya Rahane, explosive Rinku Singh, mystery spinner Sunil Narine, and wrist-spin wizard Varun Chakravarthy, the team now boasts exceptional balance.

This lineup prioritizes an explosive start, a stable middle order for consolidation, unmatched finishing prowess, and a bowling unit with mystery spin, raw pace, slingy variations, and death-over expertise. With batting depth extending well into the lower order and flexibility in overseas selections, KKR look primed for a strong title push.

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KKR IPL 2026 Squad

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

KKR's Strongest Team in IPL 2026

The opening pair sets an aggressive tone right from the word go. Cameron Green brings raw power and fearlessness to blast through the powerplay, while also handling glove work efficiently. Partnering him will be Sunil Narine. At No. 3 comes the steady hand of captain Ajinkya Rahane, whose vast experience provides the perfect anchor during tricky phases, allowing the strokemakers around him to play freely.

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The middle order is bolstered by Rinku Singh, the ultimate pressure player and proven finisher who has turned games single-handedly. KKR will have Angkrish Raghuvanshi in the mix and the youngster is likely to be at no. 4, and he may also be handed the glove-work.

The bowling attack is led by Varun Chakravarthy, whose mystery leg-spin can dismantle any lineup in the middle phase. Matheesha Pathirana, with his unorthodox slingy action and lethal yorkers, while Harshit Rana is expected to be in the lineup as well.

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KKR Best Playing 11 for IPL 2026

Sunil Narine, Cameron Green, Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Matheesha Pathirana, Harshit Rana

Impact Player Options

Batting: Manish Pandey, Tejasvi Singh

Bowling: Akash Deep, Vaibhav Arora

","readDurationInMinutes":"4","author":{"name":"MyKhel English","logo":"https://glance-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/bubble/jpeg/37610a48-88af-43d0-af64-7f16b2ad76d2.jpeg"},"ism":false,"analyticsResponses":[{"measurementId":"G-VEYN0E5XZR","type":"GA"}],"pointerSummary":["KKR secured Green & Pathirana at auction; added Ravindra, Allen & Rahman.","Rahane, Rinku, Narine & Chakravarthy retained for team balance.","Narine & Green open, Rahane anchors, Pathirana leads bowling."],"tags":["IPL2026","KKR","KolkataKnightRiders","Cricket","TeamLineup","CameronGreen","MatheeshaPathirana","AjinkyaRahane","RinkuSingh","SunilNarine","VarunChakravarthy","RachinRavindra","FinnAllen","MustafizurRahman","AbuDhabi","IPLAuction","AngkrishRaghuvanshi","HarshitRana","ManishPandey","RovmanPowell"],"consent":true,"redirectionEnabled":false}

KKR Best Playing 11: Kolkata Knight Riders Strongest Lineup, Impact Player Options in IPL 2026

SUMMARY