2012, 2014, 2024
All eyes will be on Kolkata Knight Riders as they head into IPL 2026 after a disappointing 2025 season, where they finished 8th under Ajinkya Rahane’s captaincy. With the retention window now closed, KKR have clearly moved on from several high-profile names, signaling a fresh direction for the franchise. Big players like Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Moeen Ali, Spencer Johnson, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz are no longer part of the setup, marking the end of an era and a major reset for the squad.
Instead, KKR have chosen to build around a younger, more Indian-focused core. The franchise has retained Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Manish Pandey, Rovman Powell, Umran Malik, and Ajinkya Rahane, forming the foundation of the KKR 2026 squad. The focus is clearly on balance, long-term stability, and developing match-winners from within.
With several senior overseas stars released, a big question now hangs over KKR’s leadership and team combination heading into the mini-auction. While the retained group offers reliable batting depth, mystery spin, and young pace talent, the franchise is expected to aggressively target impact all-rounders and fast bowlers. How well KKR rebuild around this new core will largely define their chances of returning as serious contenders in IPL 2026.
The Kolkata Knight Riders are back with big changes for the IPL 2026 season. Here’s a full squad lineup for KKR this year.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| BATTERS | Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Rahul Tripathi |
| ALLROUNDERS | Sunil Narine, Cameroon Green, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra |
| WICKETKEEPERS | Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Tim Seifert |
| BOWLERS | Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Kartik Tyagi, Matheesha Pathirana, Prashant Solanki, Umran Malik, Vaihav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy |
While the KKR dominated last season, they still boast a squad with exciting potential once they get a full-time skipper for their squad. Here are the top 5 players to watch out for in IPL 2026 that can be very helpful for IPL betting-
Sunil Narine is once again a key part of KKR’s retained core, offering unmatched value with both bat and ball. His mystery spin remains a major weapon in the middle overs, while his flexible batting role gives the team tactical depth. Narine’s experience, control, and match-winning ability make him one of the most important pillars of the KKR 2026 squad.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi represents KKR’s long-term vision and focus on young Indian talent. Retained after showing promise, he is seen as a future top-order asset who can anchor innings and build big partnerships. IPL 2026 could be a breakthrough season for Angkrish as KKR look to develop him into a dependable batting mainstay.
Rinku Singh remains the backbone of KKR’s batting unit going into IPL 2026. Retained as a core Indian player, he continues to be one of the most reliable finishers in the league. His ability to handle pressure, dominate the death overs, and stabilize innings makes him central to KKR’s rebuild. With the franchise focusing on a long-term Indian core, Rinku’s role becomes even more crucial this season.
Harshit Rana is one of the most important retained fast bowlers in the KKR 2026 setup. With several overseas pacers released, his role becomes even bigger. Known for his aggression and ability to hit the deck hard, Harshit is expected to lead the young pace unit and deliver impact performances both in the powerplay and at the death.
Varun Chakravarthy continues to lead KKR’s spin attack after being retained for IPL 2026. Known for his variations and control, Varun is expected to play a decisive role on slow and turning tracks. With KKR building around stability and proven performers, his consistency in the middle overs will be vital in choking runs and breaking partnerships.
Above are the top five players to watch for betting in IPL 2026 from Kolkata Knight Riders – Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, and Harshit Rana. These five form the core of KKR’s retained squad and represent the franchise’s new direction built around Indian depth, mystery spin, and young pace. Despite KKR finishing 8th last season, these players stood out as long-term assets, and they are expected to play defining roles in IPL 2026.
Among them, Rinku Singh remains KKR’s most reliable batting option and a prime pick for runs, sixes, and match-impact betting markets. Sunil Narine continues to be one of the most valuable all-round betting options due to his dual impact with both bat and ball. Varun Chakravarthy is once again central to KKR’s bowling plans, making him a strong choice in wicket-taking and economy-based bets.
Youngsters Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harshit Rana bring the X-factor for punters. Angkrish is seen as a future top-order mainstay, while Harshit’s expanded role in the pace attack makes him a key wicket-taking prospect this season.
With major overseas names like Andre Russell, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Moeen Ali, Spencer Johnson, and Venkatesh Iyer no longer part of the squad, KKR’s betting focus now clearly shifts to this retained core. These players will carry the bulk of responsibility in IPL 2026 and are likely to dominate KKR-related betting markets throughout the season.
If you’re planning to place bets on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) matches in India, choosing the right IPL satta website is more important than ever ahead of IPL 2026. With KKR entering a new phase after a major squad reset, interest around their performances, player markets, and match outcomes is expected to rise sharply. From backing consistent performers like Rinku Singh and Sunil Narine to tracking emerging names such as Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Harshit Rana, KKR-related betting markets will offer plenty of opportunities this season. Selecting a reliable bookmaker ensures secure transactions, competitive odds, fast payouts, and access to diverse betting options including match results, top batter, top bowler, and in-play markets. Below, we explore some of the best betting platforms in India that are well-suited for KKR fans and IPL bettors.
If you’re planning on betting on Kolkata Knight Riders here’s how you can do it easily:
Look for one that gives you a welcome bonus and has a low minimum deposit for this you can pick our suggested bookmakers given above.
Enter a few details of yours by making yourself for registration. Use any of the payment methods the betting site offers to add funds to your account.
Search for cricket in the sports section, select IPL, and check out the match schedule. Click on the odds for the outcome you predict. Enter the amount you want to bet and choose the type of bet.
You can even bet on the go using your phone. Many IPL betting websites have apps you can download for free on Android and iOS devices.
The three-time IPL champions have five top T20 players in their squad. If these players perform at their peak, KKR stands a strong chance of securing their fourth league title.
The odds of winning the upcoming tournament are currently 8.0, reflecting confidence in their squad’s potential. This number is influenced by their dominant performance in IPL 2024, where they claimed their fourth title.
The Kolkata Knight Riders, a team known for their spirit and two championship titles (2014, 2016) are back for another shot at IPL glory in 2024. Here are some quick facts about KKR that will help you with cricket betting-
| Owner | Knight Riders Sports Private Ltd |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Abhishek Nair |
| Venue | Eden Gardens |
| Captain | Ajinkya Rahane |
Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Matheesha Pathirana and Cameroon Green are the notable overseas players added to KKR’s squad this season.
Harshit Rana is expected to take on a key role in the pace attack, partnering with Matheesha Pathirana to bolster KKR’s bowling lineup.
Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine will lead the spin department, forming a crucial duo to control the middle overs.
The absence of former coach Chandrakant Pandit and captain Ajinkya Rahane could challenge KKR’s ability to defend its title.
Retained players like Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Ramandeep, and Sunil Narine are expected to play pivotal roles in KKR’s campaign.
The squad has a potent mix of experienced and young talent, but leadership remains a question mark, affecting their overall depth and strategy.
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