Even before the start of IPL 2026, there will be a worrying atmosphere in the camp of Kolkata Knight Riders, because fast bowlers are getting injured one after the other. Harshit Rana and Akashdeep have been out of the entire season due to injury, on the other hand, Mathisha Pathirana will not be able to play in the first few matches, hence Kolkata’s fast bowling department has faded.
Still, apart from captain Ajinkya Rahane, veteran spinner Sunil Narine, Varun Chakraborty, young enthusiasm is also present in the squad of 3-time champion KKR in the form of Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Cameron Green will also be the subject of discussion, on whom Kolkata Knight Riders spent Rs 25.2 crore in the auction. Know here how the playing eleven of Kolkata Knight Riders could look like without the 3 main fast bowlers.
KKR’s best playing eleven
This time, all eyes will be on New Zealand’s stormy batsman Finn Allen, who is coming after scoring the fastest century in the history of T20 World Cup. He scored a century in 33 balls. Captain Ajinkya Rahane can take the responsibility of opening with him, who scored 390 runs in IPL 2025 playing at a strike rate of around 148. Young batsman Angkrish Raghuvanshi has confirmed the number-3 position and has performed strongly in the last two seasons.
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green can come at number-4 and he can also bowl medium pace. In the absence of Harshit, Akashdeep and Pathirana, Green will have to take the responsibility of bowling. Here Rinku Singh will have to play the role of batting boldly in the middle overs rather than as a finisher. Rovman Powell and Ramandeep Singh will also have additional responsibility, like Cameron Green, they may have to bowl 2-3 overs in the innings.
There will be a lot of pressure on Sunil Narine and Varun Chakraborty as both of them will be the senior bowlers of the team. This season can give a breakthrough to Vaibhav Arora, who has taken 36 wickets in his IPL career, because he can emerge as the main fast bowler of the team. The same thing can be said for Kartik Tyagi, who may get a chance to play the entire season this time. If he gets a chance, he will have to capitalize on every opportunity.
KKR’s probable playing eleven: Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi.
