Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders are a two-time IPL champion, having lifted the trophy in 2012 and 2014 under Gautam Gambhir’s captainship. Known for their aggressive brand of cricket and strong overseas core, they have remained one of the league’s most consistent and glamorous franchises since their inception in 2008.

In IPL 2025, KKR finished fifth on the points table, missing the playoffs after a mid-season slump despite strong individual contributions from Rinku Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy. The side showed flashes of their title-winning pedigree but lacked consistency in both batting depth and death bowling.

Ahead of IPL 2026, KKR have retained Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Varun Chakaravarthy and Rovman Powell while releasing Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Moeen Ali. Their key strengths lie in Narine’s all-round impact and Chakaravarthy’s mystery spin, but the loss of explosive middle-order batting and experienced pace options creates clear gaps. With a reported auction purse of ₹45 crore, they should target Devon Conway for stability at the top, Cameron Green as a power-hitting all-rounder and Matheesha Pathirana to strengthen their death bowling attack.