KKR Squad: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were among the largest surprises in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, stealing the headlines with some major and shrewd moves. In fact, the team had a clear plan since they strengthened all aspects with both strength and depth.
The most talked-about event of the KKR auction was their acquisition of Cameron Green, who is considered to be among the most desirable all-rounders in international cricket circles worldwide sold for a massive 25.20 crore, which is most by an overseas player. The fact that he has the capability of contributing to the game whether it’s with the bat or the ball makes him a game-changer, and it was evident that KKR is planning to dominate this season as well with their aggressive bid for Cameron Green.
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KKR has also made a massive statement by acquiring the services of Matheesha Pathirana for 18 crore, who is one of the feared death-over bowlers in T20 cricket. With his slinging action and yorker delivery, Pathirana will bring stability to KKR's death bowling, which has often come under criticism over the years.
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Adding more experience to the mix, the franchise has also brought in the likes of Mustafizur Rahman into the mix for 9. The left-arm pacer from Bangladesh is known for his cutters and variations, which always work to his advantage on slower tracks. This will increase the balance in the Kolkata Knight Riders' bowling line-up, as they already have adequate speed options to choose from.
Alongside these big ticket acquisitions, KKR has made a few very astute and strategic acquisitions as well. They have ensured that they retain a very strong core of players in India and also incorporate some youth into the team. The likes of Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine, and Harshit Rana are still very much an integral part of this team.
On the whole, KKR’s auction plan impressed everyone with its simplicity and aggression. The team has prepared a complete squad with the best international performers in a way that they are all set to perform strongly in the upcoming IPL 2026. Now, their fans will be waiting to see whether these record purchases will bring home results.
Who Kolkata Knight Riders has retained earlier?
The 2024 champions, KKR's retention list comprised high-profile names like Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, and Harshit Rana .
Retained Players before mini-auction: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Charkravarthy.
Kolkata Knight Riders full list of players for IPL 2026
Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane (C), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Dahiya, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Rachin Ravindra, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Ramandeep Singh, Matheesha Pathirana, Akash Deep, Kartik Tyagi, Umran Malik, Mustafizur Rahman, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Prashant Solanki, Vaibhav Arora
Also Read: (SRH) Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL Auction 2026 Full Players List: Base Price, Age, Country, IPL History