Kolkata Knight Riders KKR Team 2026 In IPL 2025, the Kolkata side have created a balanced team again including stars that were retained in Sunil Narine (₹17 Cr), Rinku Singh (INR.10 Cr), and Varun Chakravarthy (INR.8 Cr) with new addition throng massive buys from auction where they bagged Pakistan openers Qaim Ali for 42 crore, Jonty Sidhu(35 CR) along with Aussie all rounder Marcus Stoinis (30 CR).
Led by captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Abhishek Nayar, this 25‑man squad is looking to recover from an eighth-place showing in 2025 as they prepare to unleash spin mastery, pace variation and batting firepower for yet another title push at the iconic Eden Gardens.
KKR Team Full Analysis (2026 Season Preview)
Kolkata-Knight-Riders IPL 2026: AFTER a disappointing season seeing them finish last (8th) out of the eight teams in IPL26, Kolkata Knight Riders sees themselves with woods to chop and has assembled a newlook 25-player squad featuring international players under the new captaincy of India’s Ajinkya Rahane, who will be mentored by Head Coach Abhishek Nayar.
It is the spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, reverse-whack batting from Rinku Singh and Cameron Green (₹25.20 Cr buy), and pace firepower through Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman are their strengths.
Squad Strengths
Batting Depth: The ideal blend of experience, with Rahane at the top and some brawn in the middle orders with Rinku (13 Cr retained length), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and overseas mashers Powell and Green.
Bowling Variety Tap – World‑class spin (Narine, Chakravarthy) combine with slingy death specialists Pathirana (18 Cr) and Mustafizur(9.20 Cr).
All‑round Balance: There is also some balance across the phases brought in by Ramandeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Rachin Ravindra.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Team Name | Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Home Ground | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Team Colors | Purple & Gold |
| Most Iconic Player | Sunil Narine |
| Current Captain (2026) | Ajinkya Rahane |
| Head Coach | Abhishek Nayar |
| Team Owners | Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla & Jay Mehta (Knight Riders Sports Pvt Ltd) |
| IPL Titles Won | 3 (2012, 2014, 2024) |
| Playoff Appearances | 10 seasons including 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2024 |
| Fan Base Nickname | Knightriders Army / Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re |
| Key Players Over the Years | Gautam Gambhir, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Shubman Gill, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy |
| Reputation | Three‑time champions known for spin dominance, passionate Kolkata fans, and Bollywood glamour, with a history of thrilling playoff runs and rebuilds |
| Official Website | Click Here |
KKR Squad IPL 2026 | Kolkata Knight Riders Team Players List with Price | IPL 2026
Batters
All-Rounders
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IPL Teams 2026
KKR Team Support Staff for IPL 2026 KKR are ready to roar!
‘ Kolkata Knight Riders Overhauled its support staff after finishing 8th in IPL 2025, naming Abhishek Nayar as head coach and bringing international knowledge to the squad for IPL 2026.
Coaching Staff
| Role | Name |
| Head Coach | Abhishek Nayar |
| Assistant Coach | Shane Watson |
| Team Mentor | Dwayne Bravo |
| Bowling Coach (Potential) | Tim Southee |
Full Support Staff
| Role | Name |
| Physiotherapist | Prasanth Panchada |
| Assistant Physiotherapist | Abhishek Ashok Sawant |
| Massage Therapist | Subhajit Das |
| Strength & Conditioning Coach | Chris Donaldson |
| Analyst | Nathan Leamon |
| Team Manager | Adrian Wayne Bentley |
Abhishek Nayar moves up from assistant coach, utilizing his and UP Warriorz success and long KKR association while Shane Watson boasts T20 nohow from stints at Delhi Capitals to help the young side.
Kolkata Knight Riders IPL 2026 Players Released
Kolkata Knight Riders released several big names ahead of IPL 2026 to free up a massive purse and overhaul the squad after a poor 2025 season.
The most notable exits include long‑serving match‑winner Andre Russell and high‑value Indian all‑rounder Venkatesh Iyer, along with multiple overseas stars.
KKR IPL All‑Time Points Table (2008–2025)
| Season | Matches | Won | Lost | N/R | Points | Position |
| 2008 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 8th |
| 2009 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 8th |
| 2010 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 3rd |
| 2011 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 3rd |
| 2012 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 23 | 1st |
| 2013 | 16 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 13 | 7th |
| 2014 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 20 | 1st |
| 2015 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 16 | 4th |
| 2016 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 3rd |
| 2017 | 14 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 3rd |
| 2018 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 5th |
| 2019 | 14 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 6th |
| 2020 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 5th |
| 2021 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 7th |
| 2022 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 7th |
| 2023 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 12 | 7th |
| 2024 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 1st |
| 2025 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 8th |
| Total | 252 | 112 | 135 | 5 | 240 | 3rd |
The following table summarises KKR’s performance in various aspects across all IPL seasons until 2025 with 3 championships and an overall win rate of 44.4%.
KKR Last 10 Matches Results
The 10 most recent IPL games for the Kolkata Knight Riders display a successful 2024 title-winning season with 7 wins juxtaposed against a woeful return in the latest league fixtures (1 victory).
There were match‑winning all‑round efforts from the standout performers as far as KKR were concerned like Sunil Narine (on multiple occasions) and Venkatesh Iyer taking them across the line or losses exposing the middle order soft belly against good chase sides.
| Match No. | Opponent | Result | Margin | Venue/Date | Key Performer |
| 1 (Recent) | CSK | Won | 8 wickets | Eden Gardens, Apr 08 2025 | Rinku Singh 50* |
| 2 | LSG | Lost | 4 runs | Lucknow, Apr 03 2025 | Venkatesh Iyer 78 |
| 3 | RCB | Lost | 7 wickets | Bengaluru, Mar 28 2025 | Varun Chakravarthy 3/25 |
| 4 | SRH | Won | 8 wickets | Chennai, May 26 2024 | Venkatesh Iyer 52 |
| 5 | SRH | Won | 8 wickets | Ahmedabad, May 21 2024 | Sunil Narine 27 & 2/15 |
| 6 | RR | Won | 18 runs (DLS) | Jaipur, May 19 2024 | Mitchell Starc 3/34 |
| 7 | LSG | Won | 24 runs | Lucknow, May 05 2024 | Sunil Narine 75 & 1/16 |
| 8 | DC | Won | 7 wickets | Delhi, Apr 29 2024 | Sunil Narine 85 |
| 9 | PBKS | Won | 8 wickets | Eden Gardens, Apr 26 2024 | Phil Salt 89* |
| 10 | CSK | Lost | 7 wickets | Eden Gardens, Apr 03 2024 | Shivam Dube 66* (CSK) |
Kolkata Knight Riders Team History
PredictionsKolkata Knight Riders (KKR), co-owned by Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Jay Mehta, had high expectations when they made their IPL debut 2008 but went through initial hiccups and ended at the last place in their first two seasons.
the franchise adjusted rapidly and formed its identity around aggressive cricket at Eden Gardens as they clinched three IPL titles (2012, 2014, 2024) in the process of turning into one of the league’s most iconic teams with 123 wins from 252 matches.
Early Struggles (2008–2011)
KKR’s early years were marked by instability and bottom‑table placings, with just 10 victories across 42 league matches in 2008–2009 marred by insipid overseas recruitment and John Buchanan’s dismissal to make way for Dav Whatmore.
The arrival of Gautam Gambhir as captain in 2011 changed the side and compelled them to a third, with 7 wins; an opportunity they seized on with acute domestic signings such as Jacques Kallis and Sunil Narine that would go on to set the precedent of future IPL success. It provided a franchise in need of identity with stability and belief.
Rise to Dominance (2012–2014)
Gambhir led what remains KKR’s high point, consecutive titles in 2012 and 2014 powered by Narine’s mystery spin, Umesh Yadav’s pace and a rock‑solid middle order of Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan.
The 2012 success was fine climaxing remarkable playoff wins and the topping of the league in 2014 after ninth win, having beaten Kings XI Punjab in final. This period laid the foundation for KKR to evolve as spin-heavy tacticians at home, with 26 wins over three seasons locking up Eden Gardens like it was their fortress.
Challenges and Rebuilding (2015–2021)
In the post‑2014 years, KKR were already dealing with Gambhir’s diminishing form, overseas failures of personnel such as Chris Lynn’s proneness to injury and spin department gaps following Narine’s no‑balls saga that led to five sub‑top‑four finishes.
Although 2016-2017 saw them in the playoffs, powered by young guns like Shubman Gill and Andre Russell’s striking power, seven — straight seasons up to 2018 were spent outside the playoffs leading to captaincy changes between Dinesh Karthik and Eoin Morgan. It was a phase that tested resilience but seeded talents like Varun Chakravarthy for future revamps.
Revival and Recent Glory (2022–2025)
A GT mentor Gautam Gambhir led the revival, which saw them make a playoffs it was largely because of Russell’s finishing and Gill’s pieced-together form.
A high was reached in 2024 with Venkatesh Iyer leading the team to a third title, courtesy of efficient Qualifier 1 and final victories over SRH. But by 2025, they slipped to eighth owing to batting collapses and decided to release big names like Russell and Iyer ahead of 2026 auctions. KKR’s journey mirrors that: the adaptation, the Bollywood sheen mixing with cricketing grime over 18 seasons.
Kolkata Knight Riders Squad 2026 – Complete Players List
| Sr. No. | Player | Role | Auction / Contract Price (INR) |
| 1 | Ajinkya Rahane | Batter (Captain) | 1.50 Cr |
| 2 | Rinku Singh | Batter | 13 Cr (Retained) |
| 3 | Angkrish Raghuvanshi | Batter | 3 Cr (Retained) |
| 4 | Manish Pandey | Batter | 0.75 Cr (Retained) |
| 5 | Rovman Powell | Batter | 1.50 Cr (Retained) |
| 6 | Rahul Tripathi | Batter | 0.75 Cr |
| 7 | Ramandeep Singh | Batter/All‑rounder | 4 Cr (Retained) |
| 8 | Tejasvi Singh Dahiya | Wicketkeeper‑Batter | 3 Cr |
| 9 | Finn Allen | Wicketkeeper‑Batter | 2.10 Cr |
| 10 | Tim Seifert | Wicketkeeper‑Batter | 1.50 Cr |
| 11 | Cameron Green | All‑rounder | 25.20 Cr |
| 12 | Sunil Narine | All‑rounder | 12 Cr (Retained) |
| 13 | Anukul Roy | All‑rounder | 0.40 Cr (Retained) |
| 14 | Daksh Kamra | All‑rounder | 0.30 Cr |
| 15 | Sarthak Ranjan | All‑rounder | 0.30 Cr |
| 16 | Rachin Ravindra | All‑rounder | 2 Cr |
| 17 | Harshit Rana | All‑rounder/Pacer | 4 Cr (Retained) |
| 18 | Vaibhav Arora | Pacer | 1.80 Cr (Retained) |
| 19 | Varun Chakravarthy | Bowler | 12 Cr (Retained) |
| 20 | Umran Malik | Pacer | 0.75 Cr (Retained) |
| 21 | Matheesha Pathirana | Pacer | 18 Cr |
| 22 | Kartik Tyagi | Pacer | 0.30 Cr |
| 23 | Prashant Solanki | Bowler | 0.30 Cr |
| 24 | Mustafizur Rahman | Pacer | 9.20 Cr |
| 25 | Akash Deep | Pacer | 1 Cr |
This 25‑player KKR squad for IPL 2026 balances 12 retentions with aggressive auction buys, emphasizing pace variety and Indian batting depth ahead of the season start.
FAQs on KKR Team 2026
Q-1) Who is the Captain of IPL 2026 Kolkata Knight Riders?
The KKR captain for the IPL 2026 will be Ajinkya Rahane, who has been brought in to add his experience of having led from the front in the IPL and international cricket.
Q-2) Who was the costliest purchase for KKR in IPL 2026 auction?
Cameron Green, who they bought for ₹25.20 crore, emerged as KKR’s most expensive buy and it was a clear indication of their plans to strengthen their all‑round resources with the Australian talent.
Q-3) How many players retained KKR before IPL 2026?
Players Retained KKR retained 12 core players comprising of Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Rinku Singh to retain spin strength and finisher’s role in the team.
Q-4) Wicketkeepers in KKR IPL 2026 team?
Wicketkeeping options While they’ve recently been playing Banters, Tejasvi Singh Dahiya’s Gilchristianic biffing on the T20 circuit can be supplemented by Finn Allen and Tim Seifert (SA/NZ) – adding more batting, keeping even more.
Q-5) What is the expected playing XI of KKR for IPL 2026?
Finn Allen (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, Matheesha Pathirana Varun Chakravarthy Mustafizur Rahman.
Q-6) Which all key players KKR released ahead of IPL 2026?
Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kockand and Anrich Nortje to rejuvenate the overseas slots – encompass and form_outline forme> of problems.
Also Read: Matheesha Pathirana IPL 2026 Price | Cameron Green IPL 2026 Price