"He's the ideal fit for KKR" - Kris Srikkanth's huge advice for 2024 champions for IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth believes the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) should go all-out for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction. The 2024 champions released as many as nine players during the retention deadline, freeing themselves of ₹64.30 crore for the auction.

Meanwhile, Green missed the 2025 IPL season with injury but has looked in terrific form since his return. The right-hander has averaged 43 at a strike rate of over 168 in eight T20Is this year.

With his bowling likely to resume by the IPL next year, Green is being sought out by several teams in the 2026 auction.

Talking about KKR's auction plans on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said (24:40):

"They'll go for a guy like Cameron Green. He's the ideal fit for KKR. And on the short boundaries at Eden Gardens, he'll smash sixes at will."

The former captain also urged KKR to encourage speedster Umran Malik going forward.

"They should guide a guy like Umran Malik. He's someone who needs guidance. He can be a potential match-winner. He was a match-winner for SRH. No player can slide so badly unless his confidence is shattered. So you've to just pump in and inject confidence in him. He'll do well for you, Umran Malik," said Srikkanth.

After coming to KKR in the 2025 auction, Malik did not play a single game for them last season.

"They just need to fill in some backup player slots" - Kris Srikkanth on RCB

Kris Srikkanth believes defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have most bases covered already heading into the 2026 IPL auction. However, the former opener urged the side to fill in a few back-up players in the reserves.

"RCB are in a great position. They are a championship side. They just need to fill in some backup player slots. Even someone like a Kuhnemann can be a good fit as a backup for them. He could even be a good buy for CSK," said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

Coming to the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Srikkanth believes they boast a brilliant top-order but must bat Heinrich Klaasen consistently in the top four.

"They've a gun top-order. It's match over if anyone in their top four clicks. With such a batting lineup, I don't know how they struggled last year. The mistake they made last season was sending Klaasen at No. 5 and 6. He should always bat at 4. You can't play around with Heinrich Klaasen," he concluded.

After finishing runners-up in 2024, SRH finished sixth with only six wins in 14 outings.

Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran