Finding the proper combinations is still the three-time winners’ toughest issue ahead of IPL 2026, according to Abhishek Nayar, the new head coach of the Kolkata Knight Riders, who stated on Friday that they have a restructured squad and a plethora of opening alternatives.
After a dismal 2025 season, KKR reorganized their team and added notable names like Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Rachin Ravindra. However, they have not yet decided on their batting order.
“I’m terrible at predicting what can go wrong, but I can just tell you, I don’t know how the tournament will pan out, but I think initially, it’s making sure we get a fit playing XI come (March) 29th,” Nayar said in Kolkata at their season’s first media interaction.
On March 29, KKR will start their campaign away from home against the Mumbai Indians.
In the absence of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Quinton de Kock, KKR, who finished seventh in the previous season with just five victories, will also have a new opening lineup.
Among the front-runners are the powerful New Zealand duo of Allen and Seifert, who earlier this month knocked out South Africa in the T20 World Cup semifinal at Eden Gardens with a record 117-run partnership.
It will be difficult to choose the other three foreign players from a pool that includes Green, Allen, Seifert, Ravindra, and possibly Matheesha Pathirana because Sunil Narine, who also opens, is a lock to start in the starting lineup.
“I think that is a priority right now, making sure we get our combinations right. Because I always believe when you have new combinations in this IPL, it’s about making sure you get your team peaking, yes, everyone in form, but positioning them well enough for them to succeed. So I think that as a group will be our first challenge and the rest we’ll see as it comes,” Nayar said.
Although Nayar emphasized that previous performance would not have much of an impact on the upcoming season, KKR’s middle-order problems from the previous season, when the Nos. 4-8 failed to deliver regularly, are still a cause for concern.
He gave the example of Sanju Samson, who helped India win a historic treble by overcoming poor form in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup and scoring three game-changing fifties.
“We saw that with Sanju Samson in the World Cup as well. It’s about being there at that moment in this tournament. So we’re very hopeful that our players can start strong. And if you’re in good form, it doesn’t matter what your name is in this format of the game. I think form counts a lot more than what’s happened in the past,” he added.
“I’ve always believed T20 cricket is a game of momentum. It’s a game of form. So what happened a year ago doesn’t really matter as to what’s going to happen. I think something that is going to be really important is the kind of form our boys hit this season. And if everyone is at the peak of their prowess, you expect this team to do really well like they did a year before last. So I honestly believe that it’s not so much of what happened in the past.”
KKR’s batting resources are both a strength and a selection dilemma, according to assistant coach Shane Watson.
“The beauty of this KKR squad is the amount of incredible world-class batting options that we do have this season. It’s an abundance of riches with the calibre of players we do have. Where they all fit in, that’s going to be a challenge for the leaders of this organisation to be able to try and get those combinations as right as we possibly can from game one and then make the little adjustments that need to be throughout the tournament as well,” Watson said.
“Obviously, with Cam Green, the quality of cricketer he is as an all-rounder, wherever he gets an opportunity, I know he’ll really be wanting to make the most of that. But yeah, the beauty is we’ve got some serious power, world-class players and a great blend of experience and youthful energy as well. So it’s very exciting to see exactly how that’s going to play out throughout the tournament.”
On the other hand, the team has faced difficulties with pace. Pathirana’s availability is still unknown, and Harshit Rana has been ruled out.
Mentor Dwayne Bravo voiced confidence in the bowling squad despite the defeats, especially the spin attack spearheaded by Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.
“Yeah, I think in any tournament with any team, once you lose some of the key bowling options, these are not things you plan for, but these are things you have to accept. The good thing about Indian cricket, especially at the moment, there’s a lot of depth.
“There’re the likes of Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi… These guys are also players who have played IPL before. They are young, exciting talents. So for me personally, I’m happy, along with Tim (Southee), to work with this group of fast bowlers.
“We have the best spin duo in the entire competition. So from a bowling point of view, I think we will be fine. Also, don’t forget Vaibhav (Arora), who had a fantastic season last year. So yeah, we lost some key players, but I feel comfortable to know that we have what it takes to replace those guys,” Bravo said.
