Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have to find a proper replacement for pacer Mustafizur Rahman. After spending a record amount of over INR 9 crore on the Bangladeshi pacer, the franchise had to release him as per BCCI's instruction. Now, ahead of the IPL 2026 season, KKR will have to find a suitable player who can fill the vacant place.

According to some speculations, the multi-time IPL-winning franchise can rope in Afghanistan pacer Naveen-Ul-Haq for the upcoming season. The Afghan pacer, who has a lot of experience in the T20 format, can add extra firepower in KKR's bowling department. The chances of seeing the Afghan pacer joining KKR have increased as he skipped the players draft of the Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026).

In a separate report, it is claimed that star cricketers of Afghanistan are not going to take part in PSL 2026; Naveen-Ul-Haq is one of them.

Read More: T20 World Cup 2026: 3 players who could replace Tilak Varma

KKR can sign Afghan pacer Naveen-Ul-Haq for IPL 2026 season

So far, the 26-year-old has played only a couple of Indian Premier League seasons. For the IPL 2023 and IPL 2024 seasons, he was with Lucknow Super Giants. But more than his bowling skills, it was the controversial moment with Virat Kohli that took him under the spotlight. The on-field fight between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq became one of the major controversies during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. During the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Kohli got involved in a heated argument with Naveen, with the fight taking an ugly turn.

Now, if we talk about the seamer's bowling stats in the IPL, then in those two campaigns with LSG, he claimed a total of 25 wickets in 18 matches, but with an economy rate of 9.16, which is slightly on the higher side. Still, his wicket-taking ability is undeniable. 

Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman is unlikely to receive any compensation after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the upcoming IPL season. The decision was taken following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), even though the player had no role in the events that led to his exit. The situation has raised fresh questions about player rights in cases influenced by non-cricketing factors.

Mustafizur was a high-profile signing at the IPL auction, picked up by KKR for ₹9.20 crore after strong competition from Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. However, his contract was terminated after recent incidents involving attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, which reportedly led the Indian cricket board to step in and advise franchises accordingly.

The situation has also affected relations between the two cricket boards. In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has asked for Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches to be shifted from India to Sri Lanka. While the debate continues around fairness, current rules leave little protection for the player.

Why Mustafizur Rahman Is Unlikely to Get Any Compensation

Sources say that IPL player salaries are insured, but only under specific conditions. As explained by an IPL insider, "The salaries of all IPL players are insured. For foreign international players, normally the franchise pays if he is injured after joining the camp or during the course of the tournament. Normally up to 50 percent is paid from insurance. It is better for India's injured centrally contracted cricketers who normally get paid by the BCCI."

But Mustafizur Rahman’s situation is not covered under these rules of insurance. His release was not due to injury, fitness concerns, or any cricket-related reason. Since the situation is outside the standard clauses, Kolkata Knight Riders are not legally bound to pay him any compensation.

The source further explained the legal side of the issue, saying, "In case of an insurance claim, this current situation isn't covered so KKR are under no official obligation to pay a penny. It is unfortunate but Mustafiz doesn't have much option but to take a legal route and the IPL comes under Indian law jurisdiction. No overseas cricketer would want to go through this or take the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) route." Political factors also reduce the chances of any legal challenge. As the source added, "The Indo-Bangladesh political scenario is way more fluid than Indo-Pak, and it can change next year, so why would one take the risk of legal recourse."

As things stand, despite being a high-value signing with no professional or disciplinary fault, Mustafizur Rahman is expected to walk away without compensation, highlighting the limits of player protection when decisions are driven by political and administrative factors rather than cricket.

The signing of Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman by Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL 2026 season has triggered political and social debate. Amid the noise, the IPL governing body has clarified that Bangladeshi players are allowed to take part in the league.

The issue surfaced after reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh. Following this, some Hindu religious leaders and BJP politicians questioned KKR’s decision to include a Bangladeshi player in the squad.

BJP leader Sangeet Singh Som targeted KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, calling him a “traitor” and claiming that associating with Bangladeshi players was against national interest. Other religious figures echoed similar views and demanded Mustafizur Rahman be removed from the team.

BCCI Responds Amid Political Reactions

On the other hand, Congress leaders and Muslim organizations came out in support of Shah Rukh Khan. They argued that IPL teams are governed by regulations of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the international cricket bodies, not by the views of the common man.

See Also: Sri Lanka announce squad for ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup

Amid this speculation, the BCCI intervened to clear the air. Through senior officials, the board confirmed that there is no ban on Bangladeshi players taking part in IPL 2026. The BCCI reportedly told InsideSport that it remains in contact with the Indian government on diplomatic matters but has received no instruction that would stop Mustafizur Rahman from playing in the league.

A senior BCCI official said, “Bangladesh is not an enemy nation. As of now, there is no reason to bar Bangladeshi players from the IPL.” The board’s position follows its long-standing policy of keeping the IPL open and merit-based, except for Pakistani players, who remain excluded due to bilateral issues.

As things stand, Mustafizur Rahman continues to be part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad and is set to feature in the IPL 2026 season, which begins in March.

IPL 2025 was a disappointing season for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). There was the defending champion, who could not even qualify for the playoffs. The end of the season came off with an alarming situation for the franchise. Ahead of a new season, which is IPL 2026, KKR officials made their intentions clear: they are going to shake up their setup massively.

On paper, the franchise retained most of their key players, but strategically, some major changes are expected. On Sunday, KKR, from their official social media account 'X,' shared a video that is considered a hint about their new opening pair. Last season, the team had tried multiple opening pairs with very little effect for them.

After the departures of Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, it was clear that KKR can create a new opening pair. According to the latest video, Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen can tie a knot for the opening combination in the IPL 2026 season. Finn Allen is known for his swashbuckling batting style, while Rahane is known for his classic batting style. The possible combination of Allen and Rahane can bring some much-needed balance on top of KKR's batting lineup. 

New jodi at home? 💜 pic.twitter.com/QJMU5flK9R

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 28, 2025

Read More: Know when Virat Kohli will play his next match for Delhi in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26

KKR Full Squad for IPL 2026:

Retained Players

Ajinkya Rahane, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Varun Chakravarthy, Ramandeep Singh, Ankul Roy, Rovman Powell, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik.

New Players

Cameron Green (25.20 cr), Matheesha Pathirana (18 cr), Mustafizur Rahman (9.20 cr), Tejasvi Singh (3 cr), Finn Allen (2 cr), Tim Seifert (1.50 cr), Rahul Tripathi (75 L), Kartik Tyagi (30 L), Daksh Kamra (30 L), Sarthak Ranjan (30 L), Prashant Solanki (30 L), Akashdeep (1 cr), Rachin Ravindra (2 cr).

There are enough chances to see some changes in the ownership of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Ahead of the IPL 2026 season, it is reported that Shah Rukh Khan himself can purchase some more stakes of the franchise. Currently, he has 55 per cent ownership of the company; in the near future, the percentage under him can increase by a significant margin.

Ahead of a new season of the Indian Premier League, there were speculations about some possible changes among the stakeholders of KKR. So, with valid reasons, many thought that the Kolkata-based franchise could get new owners on board. But now, the situation is looking different. Not new owners, but Shah Rukh Khan himself is expected to get the bigger stake.

KKR is currently owned by Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies and Juhi Chawla-Joy Mehta's Mehta Group. While Red Chillies has a 55 per cent stake, the Mehta Group is the owner of the remaining amount of the company. It is learnt that the Mehta Group expressed their desire to sell off their stakes to increase their capital.

Read More:  Bangladesh Premier League: Former captain and coach left team’s training by auto-rickshaw

Shah Rukh Khan likely to purchase more shares in KKR

According to media reports, the current market value of the Knights is much higher than when the two companies jointly owned the Knights. So, Mehta Group has initiated the process to gain some more funds by selling some shares of KKR. It is pretty possible that Khan will cash in a more significant amount of shares.

But it is worth noting that Juhi Chawla-Joy Mehta's Mehta Group will remain as one of the owners of KKR, as they are not going to sell their entire ownership. After Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, who have won 5 IPL trophies each so far, Kolkata Knight is considered the third most successful team in the league, as they have 3 trophies in their trophy cabinet.

The IPL mini-auction delivered a major twist for three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders, who were unable to bring back Venkatesh Iyer. The left-handed batter was snapped up by defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 7 crore. Iyer had earlier been bought by KKR for INR 23.75 crore before the 2025 season. His poor form in the last IPL played a big role in KKR letting him go before the retention deadline.

Even so, KKR did not give up easily at the auction table. The franchise kept increasing the bid and went as high as INR 6.8 crore. When the amount touched INR 7 crore, KKR decided not to continue. That final call allowed RCB to secure the player and brought an end to Iyer’s long spell with KKR.

KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar later spoke about the situation and confirmed that the team wanted Iyer back. He explained that the management felt other teams were holding money for different players. Because of that, KKR believed they might be able to re-sign him at a lower price.

Cameron Green Pick Explains KKR’s Auction Strategy

Speaking to JioHotstar, Nayar said, “Venkatesh Iyer has been a franchise player for us from the start. We tried to get him back. We felt other teams were saving money for different players, so we thought we could get him at a lower price.” He also pointed out that Iyer suited KKR’s setup well. According to him, the all-rounder gave the team valuable balance and flexibility. He further added, “He is experienced and fits our setup, giving us flexibility. We tried, but RCB always seems to go after our players. This year, they got him. Venkatesh has been phenomenal for us over the years, and I wish him all the best in his new IPL journey.” The coach’s words showed respect and appreciation for Iyer’s contribution. He made it clear there was no bitterness over the outcome.

See Also: IND-W vs SL-W 1st T20I: Head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs

While missing out on Iyer, KKR made headlines by signing Cameron Green for INR 25.20 crore. This deal made Green the most expensive player in IPL history, going past Mitchell Starc. Explaining the move, Nayar said, “I can’t say how high we were willing to go for him, but we wanted to go all out. If we have the money, we spend it. There was no point in saving the money.” He added, “The idea was to do whatever we could to get Green because he is a very important player for us. With Andre Russell gone, we need someone to take the franchise forward. So, we decided we must have Cameron Green.” Along with Green, KKR also added Matheesha Pathirana, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Rachin Ravindra to strengthen their squad.

Talking about IPL 2026, KKR is going to be led by Ajinkya Rahane. After being eliminated from the playoffs in the previous season, the team hopes that their aggressive strategy in the auction really makes a difference in their favor. With a refreshed squad and new leadership options, KKR will aim to return to the top when the tournament begins on March 26.

Kolkata Knight Riders is all set for another Indian Premier League (IPL) season. After a setback in the previous campaign, the multi-time IPL-winning side is eyeing a redemption in IPL 2026. For which, they have built a strong squad on paper. They bought Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana from the IPL 2026 auction against a big chunk of the amount. 

But who will be in charge to lead the team? Before the auction, there was a lot of speculation about Sanju Samson and KL Rahul's future in the league. There were strong beliefs that both of the players were linked with KKR. Samson joined Chennai Super Kings, and Rahul stayed at Delhi Capitals ahead of the new IPL season. 

A video of KKR CEO, Venky Mysore, is surfacing on social media platforms. There, he mentioned Ajinkya Rahane's contribution as the leader of the team. 

• Read More: Watch: Venky Mysore reveals KKR captain name for IPL 2026 season

"Pathirana, Mustafizur (Rahman), Harshit Rana, Akash Deep, Vaibhav (Arora), and Umran Malik. Then you add Sunil (Narine), Varun (Chakravarthy), and Cameron Green. That's a strong bowling attack, I can say that for sure. Batting also is Ajinkya Rahane as the captain."

Venky Mysore has revealed KKR’s captain for IPL 2026 🚨

— In an interview on Star Sports, he said that Ajinkya Rahane will be the captain of our 2026 squad.pic.twitter.com/BBrorCAsgR

— KKR Karavan (@KkrKaravan) December 18, 2025

KKR IPL 2026 full squad:

Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Mustafizur Rahman, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, and Akash Deep.

Players bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the IPL 2026 auction: Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Mustafizur Rahman, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, and Akash Deep.

Cameron Green became the most expensive overseas player in the history of the Indian Premier League as soon as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) raised their paddle for INR 25.20 crore in the IPL 2026 auction on Tuesday. 

Cameron Green was the topic ahead of the auction because of his all-round abilities. Speculations turned true when the auctioneer announced his name. There were multiple interests for the young Australian all-rounder. Mumbai Indians was the first bidder in the room, with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as another contender to rope in the player. But soon, KKR hijacked the show, as they had the largest purse in the room. With a whopping amount of INR 25.20, KKR confirmed Cameron Green in their squad for the IPL 2026 season. 

Soon, after the intense bidding war, KKR released a video of Green, where fans can hear the first few words from the Aussie cricketer after breaking the records. He is super excited to join the team and can't wait for the moment to play at the Eden Gardens in front of KKR supporters. 

Read More: Who is Ashok Sharma who was sold to Gujarat Titans at Rs 90 Lakhs in IPL 2026 auction?

Watch the first video of Cameron Green after joining KKR for IPL 2026 season 

First words from our 🆕 Knight 🎙️😍 pic.twitter.com/Qmg80QksXj

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 16, 2025

"Hello KKR friends, this is Cameron Green. I'm very excited to be a part of the Kolkata team this year. I'm very excited to be at Eden Gardens and be a part of the atmosphere there. See you soon." Green certainly won the hearts of Kolkata fans by saying, "Ami KKR!" in Bengali.

Green's T20 stats are pretty impressive as an all-rounder. The emerging star has 1334 runs in 57 innings at a strike rate of 151.07 with the help of eight half-centuries and one century at the best score of an unbeaten 100 to go with 28 wickets under his belt. 

As it was expected, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) was dominating the IPL 2026 auction house, as they had the largest push. After picking up Cameron Green for a record amount, they did not hesitate to spend another big chunk of money for Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana. KKR signed in Pathirana for a staggering amount of INR 18 crore at the IPL 2026 auction on Tuesday.

Multiple franchises were interested in the steamer. With a base price of INR 2 crore, Delhi Capitals opened the bid. Soon, the bid went past the 10 crore mark as Lucknow Super Giants was also all in to secure the service of the player. But when KKR joined the party, the picture was clear. They were desperate for the young pacer. Pathirana will join the Kolkata-based franchise for INR 18 crore. With his amount, he instantly became the highest-paid Sri Lankan player in the history of the tournament. 

Former India international Ravichandran Ashwin proved correct, as he predicted before that Kolkata could go all in for the pacer mainly because of his sling bowling action. KKR always has the intention to sign mystery bowlers. Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy all joined the franchise as the surprising bowlers. Pathirana will also fit in the bracket. 

Read More: “Thank you CSK” - Devon Conway’s reaction after IPL 2026 auction snub

Record: Matheesha Pathirana becomes the most expensive Sri Lankan bowler in IPL history 

Ahead of the auction, Matheesha Pathirana picked up his form nicely. In the UAE’s ILT20 match, he took 4 for 19 in three overs. After this impressive bowling performance, he said that he is improving day by day. 

"I struggled a lot in the last few months and worked hard. But I’m still not in my best rhythm but improving, and this will improve my confidence. Actually, it's a very good point for us [Nissanka and other Sri Lankans doing well in T20 cricket], and we have a World Cup coming up in home conditions as well. I’m just doing my things and calming myself," Pathirana stated. 

Talented opening batter Prithvi Shaw faced a new low after going unsold in the previous IPL auction. He had a difficult season with the Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2024 and was released, even though he was one of their top retentions after the 2021 season.

Since then, the explosive batter has been working hard to make a strong comeback. To his credit, he is on the right path. His performances are making headlines again, instead of controversies or mistakes.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are one of the teams preparing for a major rebuild in the mega auction. After releasing players like Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the team clearly needs a new opener on their list.

On that note, let us look at three reasons why KKR should sign Prithvi Shaw at the IPL 2026 Auction.

Also Read -'Call Us Rubbish, Not Arrogant' - Ben Stokes defends England after Ashes defeat vs Australia

1. KKR Need an Aggressive Opener

KKR had great success when they used aggressive openers like Phil Salt and Sunil Narine in their 2024 title run. But Narine is not in the same form now, and players like Quinton de Kock and Rahmanullah Gurbaz also failed to deliver. So, KKR must look for a fresh modern-day opener in the auction.

Ajinkya Rahane and Narine had decent strike rates in the powerplay, but they are not long-term options, nor do they match the firepower seen in other teams.

KKR have a big purse, but they also have many other key slots to fill. So choosing a strong but budget-friendly opener makes sense.

Prithvi Shaw, despite ups and downs, remains a powerful attacking batter who can take on any bowling attack. His IPL powerplay strike rate is 146.62, which rises to 150.34 outside it. In T20s in 2024, he scored at a strike rate of 153.39.

With support and confidence from the franchise, Shaw can easily become one of the most explosive openers in the league.

2. Prithvi Shaw Is Showing Strong Signs of a Comeback

Shaw has been in good form after moving to Maharashtra in domestic cricket. He bounced back strongly after a tough 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

He started his Ranji season with a brilliant double century against Chandigarh. Midway through the season, he has an average of 67.15 and a strike rate of 92.33.

Shaw also carried this form into white-ball cricket, scoring a quick 36-ball 66 as captain against Hyderabad.

After a long gap, Shaw finally looks confident, settled, and free from off-field distractions. This is the perfect time for a team like KKR to invest in his second rise because his talent has never been in doubt.

3. Nayar and Rahane Can Bring the Best Out of Him

For Shaw’s comeback story to work, he needs the right environment. KKR offer exactly that with coach Abhishek Nayar and captain Ajinkya Rahane.

Nayar has a strong record of rebuilding players mentally and technically. He played a huge role in reviving Dinesh Karthik’s and KL Rahul’s T20 careers.

Rahane is highly respected in Mumbai cricket and has seen Shaw grow from his early days. He has even guided Shaw in tough moments, as recalled by former fielding coach R. Sridhar.

Playing under Rahane’s leadership and Nayar’s mentorship will give Shaw discipline, focus, and the support needed to prove himself again.