Kolkata Knight Riders Make Bold Moves in IPL 2026 Mini Auction
KKR's Strategic Signings at IPL 2026 Auction
Abu Dhabi [UAE], December 17: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a significant impact during the IPL 2026 mini-auction, securing marquee players such as Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana, and Mustafizur Rahman. They also enhanced their squad depth by acquiring Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, and welcoming back Tim Seifert and Rahul Tripathi. KKR's acquisitions demonstrated a commitment to balancing quality with a focus on nurturing emerging Indian talent, as highlighted in a recent announcement.
In a competitive bidding war, KKR successfully signed Australian batter Cameron Green for a record Rs 25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history. Known for his explosive batting, Green has accumulated 964 runs in 63 T20 matches, including 707 runs in two IPL seasons at an impressive strike rate of 153.70, with a top score of 100 not out.
Additionally, KKR secured Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana for INR 18 crore, overcoming interest from the Lucknow Super Giants. The 22-year-old, who was part of the IPL-winning team in 2023, has taken 136 wickets in 101 T20 matches, including 47 wickets in 32 IPL games, adding significant pace to KKR's bowling lineup.
Expressing his enthusiasm about joining KKR, Green stated, “I’m thrilled to be part of KKR for this year’s IPL; I can’t wait to experience the atmosphere at Eden Gardens.” Pathirana echoed this sentiment, saying, “I’m very excited to join the Purple and Gold army for this IPL and look forward to working with Dwayne Bravo and the coaching staff.”
Mustafizur Rahman, another IPL champion, was acquired for Rs 9.2 crore. The left-arm seamer, who debuted in the IPL in 2016, has taken 65 wickets in 60 matches.
KKR also picked up the dynamic New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Finn Allen at his base price of Rs 2 crore. Allen is known for his aggressive batting style, having scored 4,431 runs in 162 T20 matches at an average of 28.77 and a strike rate of 173.90. He will be joined by fellow New Zealander Rachin Ravindra, also signed for Rs 2 crore, bolstering KKR's top-order batting options.
Returning to the squad are Tim Seifert, who rejoined for Rs 1.50 crore, and Rahul Tripathi, signed for INR 75 lakh. Additionally, local talent Akash Deep will wear the Purple and Gold after being acquired for Rs 1 crore.
In a move to support young Indian talent, KKR signed uncapped players Tejasvi Singh (Rs 3 crore), Kartik Tyagi (Rs 30 lakh), Prashant Solanki (Rs 30 lakh), Sarthak Ranjan (Rs 30 lakh), and Daksh Kamra (Rs 30 lakh).
Tejasvi made headlines in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with an unbeaten 53 off 19 balls against Karnataka, while Sarthak scored 449 runs in nine innings in the Delhi Premier League. Tyagi, a member of India’s U-19 World Cup-winning team in 2020, has taken 26 wickets in 36 matches, and Solanki led the wicket charts in the Maharashtra Premier League with 13 wickets.
Reflecting on the auction, head coach Abhishek Nayar remarked, “We are pleased with the auction results, particularly in acquiring the players we targeted at favorable prices. Our strategy focused on domestic talent—players who bring versatility, experience, and strong recent performances. This also underscores the depth of Indian domestic cricket and the confidence teams have in these players to excel, even in their debut season.”
KKR Squad for IPL 2026:
New signings: Cameron Green (INR 25.2 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (INR 18 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (INR 9.2 crore), Tejasvi Singh (INR 3 crore), Finn Allen (INR 2 crore), Rachin Ravindra (INR 2 crore), Tim Seifert (INR 1.5 crore), Akash Deep (INR 1 crore), Rahul Tripathi (INR 75 lakh), Kartik Tyagi (INR 30 lakh), Prashant Solanki (INR 30 lakh), Sarthak Ranjan (INR 30 lakh), Daksh Kamra (INR 30 lakh)
Retained players: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.