KKR Captain in 2026: The Kolkata Knight Riders now stand at an important point as the team prepares for IPL 2026. The franchise has a mix of old players, new faces and overseas stars, so the race for the captain’s job feels very close. The management will soon make a call but for now, five players look like the strongest choices.
Shah Rukh Khan’ heartfelt tribute to Andre Russell on his retirement from IPL
Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane brings a lot of calm energy to every squad he plays for. He has led many sides in domestic cricket and even guided India in tough Test matches, so he knows how to handle pressure in big moments. He also led KKR in IPL 2025, which gives him an edge because he already understands the team’s way of working.
Rahane has played a long IPL career, scoring 5,032 runs in 198 matches with an average of around 30.50. He also has 2 centuries and 33 half-centuries, with a top score of 105*. His 514 fours and 123 sixes show that he can keep the scoreboard moving with clean, simple shots.
Rinku Singh
Rinku Singh has become one of the most loved players in the KKR family. His coolness under pressure and his ability to finish tough games have made him a hero for the team.
Rinku has played 59 IPL games, scoring 1,099 runs at an average of around 30.53. His highest score is 67*, and he has hit 87 fours and 56 sixes.
KKR IPL 2026 Players: Confirmed List of Players Kept and Released
Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy has now stepped into a leadership role in the Tamil Nadu squad for the 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This is his first major assignment as captain in a professional tournament. KKR may choose to test his leadership in the IPL as well.
Varun has played 84 IPL matches and taken 100 wickets with an impressive average of 23.85. His best figures of 5/20 he has scored only 26 runs, but his role is entirely about taking wickets and controlling the middle overs.
Steve Smith
Steve Smith is well-known across the cricket world as one of the sharpest cricket minds. If KKR manages to pick him in the auction, he could quickly become a strong captain candidate. Smith has already led Australia in many high-pressure series, and he stays very calm even when matches get tense.
Smith has played 103 IPL games, scoring 2,485 runs at an average of 34.51. He has hit 1 century and 11 half-centuries, with a top score of 101. His 225 fours and 60 sixes reflect his ability to build innings and lead by example.
Sunil Narine
Sunil Narine has been part of KKR for many years, and fans see him as a true pillar of the franchise. He has delivered for the team with both bat and ball across many IPL seasons. His knowledge of global T20 leagues also adds to his value.
Narine has played 189 IPL matches, scoring 1,980 runs with a top score of 109. He has also taken 192 wickets with an average of 25.64 and an economy of around 6.80.
KKR Squad for IPL 2026
KKR kept a strong core for the new season. The retained players include Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakravarthy.
The team has released several players, such as Andre Russell, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya, Luvnith Sisodia, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Spencer Johnson, and Venkatesh Iyer. Mayank Markande has been traded to Mumbai Indians.
