Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made big news at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi by spending heavily on Australian all-rounder Cameron Green. KKR bought Green for ₹25.20 crore, which made him the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history. With this signing, KKR showed that they are serious about making a strong comeback after a poor season last year.

Cameron Green is 26 years old and is known for his power hitting and useful fast bowling. KKR management believed he was the missing player in their team. The franchise also strengthened their bowling by signing Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana for ₹18 crore, adding more speed and aggression to their attack.

KKR also made smart buys for adding depth to the team. They selected the New Zealand batsman Finn Allen for the price of ₹2 crores at the base price and invested ₹3 crores on the uncapped Indian batsman Tejasvi Singh. Before the IPL auction, KKR held onto the reliable set of players such as Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakravarthy.

See Also: IPL Auction 2026: Full squad and new bought players for Punjab Kings

Kolkata Knight Riders Bought Players at IPL 2026 Auction

Cameron Green (₹25.20 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (₹18 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (₹9.2 crore), Tejasvi Singh (₹3 crore), Finn Allen (₹2 crore), Rachin Ravindra (₹2 crore), Tim Seifert (₹1.5 crore), Akash Deep (₹1 crore), Rahul Tripathi (₹75 lakh), Kartik Tyagi (₹30 lakh), Prashant Solanki (₹30 lakh), Sarthak Ranjan (₹30 lakh), Daksh Kamra (₹30 lakh).

Kolkata Knight Riders Full Squad for IPL 2026

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, Matheesha Pathirana, Mustafizur Rahman, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Rahul Tripathi, Tejasvi Singh, Akash Deep, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra.

Sri Lanka fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana has officially turned a new page in his Indian Premier League journey after being snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders for a massive ₹18 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. The 23-year-old speedster, who was released by Chennai Super Kings last month, did not receive a single bid from his former franchise on auction day, marking an emotional end to his time in yellow.

Soon after joining KKR, Pathirana shared a heartfelt farewell message for CSK, a franchise that played a defining role in shaping his young career. Taking to Instagram, the Sri Lankan pacer reflected on his journey from a raw teenager to a trusted match-winner under the guidance of MS Dhoni.

“From a boy with a dream to wearing yellow with pride. CSK gave me more than just cricket, it gave me belief, confidence, and a family I will always cherish,” Pathirana wrote. He added that his time with the franchise from 2022 to 2025 helped him grow not just as a cricketer, but also as a person.

Pathirana revealed his disappointment at not being able to finish his CSK stint on a special note, stating that he had hoped to reach the milestone of 50 wickets for the franchise. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t make that happen, but the dream and the effort were always from the heart,” he said.

ALSO SEE: Check list of unsold players from Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction

EMOTIONAL INSTAGRAM POST BY PATHIRANA FOR CSK. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/xAFcvWO1aa

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 16, 2025

CSK memories and a fresh start Pathirana eyes revival with KKR

The Sri Lankan also paid special tribute to MS Dhoni, thanking the CSK captain for his trust and mentorship. He acknowledged the team management, his teammates, and the loyal CSK fanbase for standing by him through highs and lows. “Chennai will always feel like home, and yellow will always have a special place in my heart,” Pathirana concluded, as he prepared to embrace a new challenge with KKR.

Pathirana made his IPL debut in 2022 and enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2023, picking up 19 wickets in 12 matches and playing a key role in CSK’s title-winning campaign. He followed it up with 13 wickets in six games in 2024, before a lean 2025 season led to his release. Now with KKR, Pathirana will look to rediscover his best form and create new memories in the purple and gold.

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. 

The IPL 2026 mini-auction will be held in Abu Dhabi and is expected to bring intense bidding because the talent pool is limited but full of high-value players. More than 1,300 cricketers have registered for the mini-auction, making it one of the biggest pools in recent years. The auction will take place on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.

However, this is not the final list. Franchises will now study the names and prepare a shorter list by early December. Only the shortlisted players will go under the hammer during the auction.

Rajasthan Royals have retained 16 players, including 7 overseas stars, ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The team will enter the auction with a purse of ₹16.05 crore. The Jaipur-based franchise is expected to look for an overseas fast bowler as a backup for Jofra Archer, a strong finisher, and an extra spin bowler.

Here is a look at five possible targets for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2026 auction.

Also Read -Ellyse Perry Creates History Again, Becomes Second Player to Record Iconic WBBL Milestone

1. Matheesha Pathirana

Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana will be available in the auction, and RR may try to sign him to fix their death-overs bowling issues. Pathirana has played 32 IPL matches for CSK and has taken 47 wickets.

2. Aquib Nabi

Jammu and Kashmir’s Aquib Nabi has impressed with his bowling in domestic cricket, and he will be on RR’s radar. Nabi has not made his IPL debut yet, but he has taken 40 wickets in 33 T20 matches so far.

3. Rachin Ravindra

As a replacement for Sanju Samson, RR may look to sign Rachin Ravindra. The Kiwi all-rounder can open the innings or bat at No. 3 as well. Rachin has played 18 IPL matches for CSK and has scored 413 runs.

4. Shai Hope

Rajasthan Royals need experience in the middle order, and West Indies captain Shai Hope can be a perfect choice for them. The West Indies ODI and T20I captain has played nine IPL matches for DC and has scored 183 runs with a strike rate of 150.

5. Cooper Connolly

Even though Rajasthan have traded Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Donovan Ferreira ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, they can still target Australian spin-bowling all-rounder Cooper Connolly for the finisher role. Connolly has played 35 T20 matches so far, taken 13 wickets, and scored 646 runs.

A total of 1355 cricketers from around the world have registered for the IPL 2026 players auction, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16. According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, 43 overseas players and two Indian players have put their names in the highest base price category of ₹2 crore. The auction is expected to see a big bidding war as teams look to sign top overseas stars like Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana.

Green missed the 2025 season of the world’s richest franchise league because of an injury. Pathirana, on the other hand, was surprisingly released by Chennai Super Kings ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. The young fast bowler, who has a slinging action similar to Sri Lankan legend Lasith Malinga, is expected to be a top target for many franchises. Looking at the trend of past IPL mini auctions, it won’t be a surprise if he becomes one of the most expensive players this year.

Mitchell Starc holds the record for being the most expensive player in an IPL mini auction. He was bought for ₹24.75 crore by Kolkata Knight Riders before IPL 2024. KKR will enter the IPL 2026 auction with a purse of ₹64.30 crore, and after keeping only 12 players, they are expected to make some big signings again.

Also Read -DEL vs KAR Dream11 Prediction Playing XI: Match 74, SMAT Elite T20, 2025 Fantasy Cricket Tips, Team, and Pitch Report

Why Overseas Players Can’t Get More Than ₹18 Crore

But this time, in the IPL 2026 auction, no overseas player can earn more than ₹18 crore. The reason is the new IPL rules introduced by the BCCI before last year’s mega auction. According to the rules, the maximum fee for any overseas player in a mini auction is capped at ₹18 crore. Even if a team bids more, the player will still get only ₹18 crore. This limit was based on the highest retention slab for the 2025 mega auction.

If teams bid above ₹18 crore for an overseas player, the extra amount will be used by the BCCI for player welfare. However, this rule does not apply to Indian players. Indian players will receive the full amount of their winning bid.

How the Rule Works

If players like Green or Pathirana are bought for ₹20 crore, they will receive ₹18 crore and the remaining ₹2 crore will go to BCCI’s welfare fund. But the entire ₹20 crore will be deducted from the team’s purse. If an Indian player is bought for the same amount, he will get the full ₹20 crore.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released some of their key players ahead of the IPL 2026 mini auction. The multi-time IPL-winning franchise will enter into the auction with a balance of INR 64.3 Crore. With this amount of money, KKR is expected to bid high for multiple exciting Indian and overseas talents. If the speculations are to be believed, then they can go for Sri Lanka international Matheesha Pathirana, who is released by Chennai Super Kings (CSK). According to rumors, the Kolkata-based franchise is interested in the pacer. Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin also believed that KKR could bid for the fast bowler who is known as 'Baby Malinga' because of his sling bowling action. 

Last season, Spencer Johnson and Anrich Nortje were the main overseas seamers bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders. Both of them are already released by the franchise. Pace bowling all-rounder Andre Russell also will enter into the auction as a free player. Overall, there are a total number of 6 slots left for foreign players in KKR. 

Pathirana was considered one of the exciting talents the Chennai Super Kings bought into their squad during the IPL 2022 season. From IPL 2022 to IPL 2025, he was with CSK. In 32 IPL matches, he got 47 wickets at an economy rate of 8.68. Though, during IPL 2025, he was a little bit out of form, claiming 13 scalps in 12 games at a high economy rate of 10.13. After these stats, CSK management decided to release him. 

Read More: Watch: Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashing Shahid Aziz for back-to-back 4s during IND A vs PAK A Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 match

KKR can show interest in Matheesha Pathirana

KKR Retained Players: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, and Varun Chakaravarthy.

KKR released players Luvnith Sisodia, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Moeen Ali, Spencer Johnson, Anrich Nortje, Chetan Sakariya & Mayank Markande (traded out).

Available Slots: 13 (including 6 Overseas slots)

Available Purse: INR 64.3 Crore.

Reports of a possible trade deal involving Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja have been gaining attention in the past few days. According to several media reports, Samson is set to join Chennai Super Kings (CSK), while Rajasthan Royals (RR) will receive Ravindra Jadeja and an overseas player in return.

Sam Curran and Dewald Brevis were named as possible options, but a report by Indian Express suggested that Matheesha Pathirana could be added in the trade deal. Amid the rumors, Pathirana deactivated his Instagram account, causing a frenzy among fans.

Meanwhile, Jadeja also deactivated his Instagram account as rumors about his move to RR spread. The all-rounder has been part of CSK for a long time and played a major role in three of their five title wins. According to reports, RR suggested Pathirana and Jadeja in the trade move for Samson, but CSK quickly suggested the name of Curran instead.

Also Read -"Meri Zindagi Na Ekdum Ruk Gayi...": PAK Cricketer Azam Khan Recalls Terrifying Moment Against Mark Wood in England

Raina Backs CSK to Retain Ravindra Jadeja

Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Suresh Raina said that veteran Ravindra Jadeja should be retained by the five-time champions ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

Reports suggest that CSK are in talks with Rajasthan Royals (RR) over a potential trade. Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson may move to Chennai, while Ravindra Jadeja and another player could head to Rajasthan.

Raina supported Jadeja’s retention, citing his valuable contribution to the team over the years. He also mentioned that Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad, CSK legend MS Dhoni, and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad should be kept for the next season.

“Noor Ahmad should be retained. He is a mystery spinner, so he must be kept. MS Dhoni should definitely stay; he is playing this year. Ruturaj Gaikwad should continue as captain. Ravindra Jadeja should be retained again. He is a key player for CSK. He has done really well for the team over the years, so ‘Sir Ravindra Jadeja’ has to be there,” Raina said on JioStar.

Suggested Changes to the Squad

Raina also suggested that CSK release New Zealand opener Devon Conway and try to fill the position with a local player in the mini-auction. He recommended releasing Deepak Hooda from the squad as well.

Sri Lanka chose to bowl first after winning the toss against Hong Kong in their second Asia Cup 2025 match. They were excellent in their first game against Bangladesh, with both bat and ball, and will look to keep up the same momentum today.

There’s one change in their playing XI Matheesha Pathirana has been replaced by Maheesh Theekshana. This means Sri Lanka have gone with only two fast bowlers, while Theekshana will team up with Wanindu Hasaranga to take charge of the spin attack.

The decision to rest Pathirana makes sense. The Dubai pitch is quite dry and is expected to help spinners more than pacers. Theekshana can be a match-winner on such pitches and could trouble the Hong Kong batters.

ALSO READ: Asia Cup 2025, HK vs SL, Match 8: Hong Kong vs Sri Lanka Toss update and Playing XI

Pathirana also didn’t have the best outing against Bangladesh, going wicketless and conceding 42 runs. On top of that, he has a history of injuries, so the team wants to manage his workload carefully and keep him fresh for bigger matches later in the tournament. With Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara will lead the pace attack , Sri Lanka will hope their bowlers can get the job done and keep their winning run alive.