Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2026 Squad, Fixtures and Complete Player List
No team transformed more dramatically at the IPL 2026 auction than Kolkata Knight Riders. Armed with the highest remaining purse of any franchise — ₹64.30 crore — KKR came in with a clear mission: rebuild from the ground up after a disappointing 2025 season. The result is a squad that looks completely different from last year, and genuinely dangerous. See how the full picture of IPL 2026 is shaping up with all teams.
Cameron Green at ₹25.20 crore became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. Matheesha Pathirana arrived for ₹18 crore. Andre Russell, Shreyas Iyer, Quinton de Kock, and Phil Salt are all gone. This is a new KKR.
KKR IPL 2026 Fixtures
| # | Date | Day | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 Mar | Sun | MI vs KKR | Mumbai |
| 2 | 02 Apr | Thu | KKR vs SRH | Kolkata |
| 3 | 06 Apr | Mon | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata |
| 4 | 09 Apr | Thu | KKR vs LSG | Kolkata |
KKR have three of their first four confirmed fixtures at home. Check the IPL 2026 full schedule for updates as remaining fixtures are announced.
KKR IPL 2026 Squad
Captain: Ajinkya Rahane | Coach: Chandrakant Pandit | Home Ground: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
| Player | Role | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | Batter | India |
| Sunil Narine | All-rounder | West Indies |
| Rinku Singh | Batter | India |
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Batter | India |
| Manish Pandey | Batter | India |
| Rovman Powell | Batter | West Indies |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Bowler | India |
| Harshit Rana | Bowler | India |
| Vaibhav Arora | Bowler | India |
| Umran Malik | Bowler | India |
| Anukul Roy | All-rounder | India |
| Ramandeep Singh | All-rounder | India |
| Cameron Green | All-rounder | Australia |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Bowler | Sri Lanka |
| Finn Allen | WK-Batter | New Zealand |
| Rachin Ravindra | All-rounder | New Zealand |
| Tim Seifert | WK-Batter | New Zealand |
What Makes KKR Dangerous in 2026
Cameron Green is a once-in-a-generation T20 all-rounder. He can open the batting and smash powerplay bowlers out of the ground, or come in at 5 and change the tempo in the middle overs. With the ball he adds genuine pace and movement. The ₹25.20 crore price tag is enormous — but if Green plays 14 matches and delivers in both departments, KKR will consider it money well spent.
Matheesha Pathirana at the death is simply one of the most difficult bowling actions in world cricket. His slinging, skiddy style at 140+ kmph with a yorker that is nearly impossible to pick makes him the best death bowler available outside of Bumrah. KKR paid ₹18 crore for exactly that.
Sunil Narine remains the heartbeat of KKR. His dual role as an attacking opener and mystery spinner is completely irreplaceable — no other player in the IPL offers what Narine brings. Varun Chakravarthy’s spin is equally unreadable for batters who have not faced him before.
Rinku Singh as a finisher with the bat is one of the most clutch players in the entire tournament — the man was born for last-over pressure chases.
KKR’s Title Chances: Key Points
- The biggest squad overhaul of IPL 2026 comes with genuine upside — but also rebuilding risk
- Three consecutive home games at Eden Gardens early in the season could build crucial momentum
- Ajinkya Rahane as captain is a calming, experienced head on a squad of mixed experience levels
- If Green and Pathirana fire together, KKR have the tools to go deep in this tournament
Track KKR’s standings throughout the season on the IPL 2026 points table.
FAQs
Who is KKR’s captain for IPL 2026? Ajinkya Rahane is the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2026.
How much did KKR pay for Cameron Green? KKR signed Cameron Green for ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history.
Why did KKR release Andre Russell? Andre Russell was released as part of KKR’s squad rebuild heading into IPL 2026 after a disappointing 2025 season.
Who coaches KKR in IPL 2026? Chandrakant Pandit is the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders.
How much did KKR spend at the IPL 2026 auction? KKR entered with the highest remaining purse of ₹64.30 crore and spent aggressively on Green, Pathirana and several other additions.
When does KKR play their first home match? KKR’s first home match is on April 2 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
