File Pic: KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane (R), Andre Russell (C) and Rinku Singh. (PTI photo) NEW DELHI: With IPL 2026 around the corner, Kolkata Knight Riders will come under the scanner and former cricketers Lakshmipathy Balaji and Faf du Plessis have laid out a detailed plan for the three-time champions. From a clear batting order to handling marquee pressure and tackling bowling issues, the two pundits highlighted the key areas that KKR need to get right ahead of the start of their high-profile campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!Balaji was particularly emphatic about the role of captain Ajinkya Rahane, insisting that he must anchor the top order and not float in the middle.
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IPL 2026 should be an audition for India’s next T20I captain “I always feel that KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane should bat in the top order. He should not bat at anything less than number three,” Balaji said on JioHotstar. “He has done phenomenally well… so him batting one would be good for both him and KKR.Balaji suggested an aggressive back four with Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rahane and Cameron Green and called it the “go-to” combination.With the main title-winning players no longer part of the set-up, he emphasized the need for new contributors. “Someone has to step up now. Probably Cameron Green or Finn Allen. And of course you have young talent like Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Their time has just come. If they do well, KKR will get a huge boost.”Faf backs Green but plays down the pressure and expectationsDu Plessis reiterated the focus on Green, calling him a “multi-skilled marquee buy”, but warned of the pressure that comes with his hefty price tag.“Cameron Green is a highly talented lad… he is a complete package. He balances the KKR team very well,” Du Plessis said. “But form hasn’t been on his side recently… there’s a lot of weight on his shoulders. The team will expect a lot from him.”He also supported the explosive Kiwi duo at the top. “We all saw the carnage they put on in the T20 World Cup… having both of them open is perfect for the way T20 cricket is played now.”Bowling worries and the key to KKR’s successHowever, Du Plessis expressed serious concerns about KKR’s bowling depth, especially with injuries affecting key players.“The question mark is their bowling. With the injuries they have, they almost need to pick an experienced player… and bring the necessary experience to their bowling attack,” he said.He also emphasized the importance of utilizing the spin duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.“They are two of the best T20 spinners… for KKR to be successful, Varun and Narine need to fire. The pitch should be prepared with these two players in mind.”
