KKR's strongest playing XI and impact player options after IPL 2026 auction ft. Matheesha Pathirana & Cameron Green

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were, as expected, one of the most active franchises at the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction on Tuesday, December 16. Armed with the biggest purse and the most slots, the three-time IPL champions made a number of high-profile signings.

Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana were their marquee acquisitions in the overseas department, while Mustafizur Rahman fetched a hefty payday as well. The rest of KKR's squad was made up of talented Indian stars and backups across various departments.

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

Interestingly, the Knight Riders have a host of combinations they can put out during the upcoming campaign. Which would be their best?

On that note, here is KKR's strongest playing XI and impact player options after the IPL 2026 auction.

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Openers: Tim Seifert (wk) and Sunil Narine

2025 IPL - Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders - Source: Getty

KKR have a plethora of options to open the batting. Ajinkya Rahane, Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Sunil Narine and Rachin Ravindra are all at their best at the top of the order. Even Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rahul Tripathi are best used in top-order roles that expose them to the powerplay.

It's honestly hard to figure out which combination is Kolkata's best. Seifert has been in sizzling form in 2025, so he should have an edge over Allen as far as an overseas wicket-keeper's slot is concerned. Ravindra, meanwhile, is expected to be a backup.

Narine and Seifert could thus be KKR's best combination up top, even though that would mean that Rahane, Raghuvanshi and Green are used in sub-optimal roles. The West Indian all-rounder wouldn't offer much with the bat at any other spot, and although his opening returns have dwindled in recent times, the franchise might have to take that punt.

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Middle Order: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh

India Cricket - Source: Getty

Rahane is clearly suspect against spin, so he is ideally used at No. 3. The skipper of the franchise will need to ensure that he delivers at that spot through the middle overs, where oppositions have managed to tie him down.

Raghuvanshi faces a similar predicament. The young batter isn't in great form right now, and his inclusion at No. 4 would not only expose him to spin but also push Green to a role outside the top four. Both scenarios aren't ideal, but it's hard to see how KKR can formulate a better batting combination that minimizes weaknesses.

Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh will be Kolkata's primary finishing options in IPL 2025. Rovman Powell featuring ahead of Seifert and Allen is an option, but that would require the side to field the uncapped Tejasvi Singh as the wicket-keeper. KKR can perhaps pick Tejasvi as a batter if he is in better nick than Raghuvanshi, with Green thus getting a top-four role.

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Lower Order: Harshit Rana, Matheesha Pathirana, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora

India Cricket - Source: Getty

KKR had a fairly settled bowling combination throughout IPL 2025, and many of the same players will continue reprising those roles. Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora formed a decent pace attack, and the Indian duo will have the death-bowling pedigree of Matheesha Pathirana to call upon as well.

Varun Chakaravarthy has led the spin unit well alongside Narine. The duo will be key at the Eden Gardens, although how the batting unit will fare in spin-friendly conditions remains to be seen.

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Impact Player Options: Anukul Roy, Rahul Tripathi, Umran Malik

2025 IPL - Delhi Capitals v Kolkata Knight Riders - Source: Getty

Anukul Roy has been in sensational form during the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In the absence of Venkatesh Iyer, KKR need a left-hander in the middle order, and the all-rounder could plug that hole.

Rahul Tripathi and Umran Malik are other impact player options who can come in depending on the conditions and the toss. Anukul, however, should be the frontrunner.

Edited by Sai Krishna