Kolkata Knight Riders can point to a series of decisions that have left them with a winless start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. After five matches, they are yet to register a victory and have managed only a single point—arriving at that tally largely because one game was washed out. With the campaign barely underway, the franchise finds itself rooted at the foot of the 10-team standings in the T20 competition, and the criticism has quickly narrowed to how their squad was shaped in the run-up to the season.
Former India cricketer and analyst Mohammad Kaif believes the core issue sits with KKR’s approach in the auction, particularly around Andre Russell. Kaif has highlighted the franchise’s call to move Russell out of the player-retention equation, despite the West Indies all-rounder being widely regarded as one of the most impactful performers in the format. Instead, KKR entered the auction and secured Australia’s Cameron Green for a fee described as record-breaking—INR 25.20 crore.
Yet Kaif’s contention goes further than price tag and expectations. In practice, Green has not been used as a bowler in the way his skill-set would suggest. This season, the tall Australian has delivered just two spells of two overs each, taking only one wicket in total. With Green’s impact seemingly muted, Kaif argues that the franchise would have been better served by sticking with Russell in the all-rounder role rather than repositioning him within the set-up.
Kaif’s criticism was blunt. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote that the biggest misstep for KKR this season was appointing Andre Russell as coach while failing to deploy him as an all-rounder. He added that keeping Russell within the KKR dugout—and preventing other franchises from buying him at the auction—has not produced the desired outcome. Kaif then posed the direct question of whether Russell is not still the superior all-rounder when compared to Cameron Green, whose price is described as around Rs 25 crore.
Rahane reflects on KKR’s struggles after Chennai loss
While the debate over recruitment and roles continues, KKR’s on-field problems were laid bare again when Chennai Super Kings delivered a convincing result against them in Chennai. CSK beat Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs, and skipper Ajinkya Rahane did not shy away from assessing where the match swung.
Rahane said he felt KKR were “treated really well” by CSK’s bowling earlier in the innings, noting that a total of 190 on that surface was especially strong in the power play period. He pointed to the early burst—CSK’s power play output of around 70-odd runs—as a key difference-maker. Rahane then credited KKR’s own bowling unit for their response after CSK set the platform, describing the act of pulling the opposition back towards a 190 chase as an “amazing job” by the bowlers.
On KKR’s batting, Rahane indicated that the side did not get the kind of start it needed. He felt that during the power play they were limited to only 36 or 37 runs, which he described as important in the context of the game. He also commented that although batting against spin proved a little challenging in the middle overs, the wicket was otherwise “really good.” Rahane added that KKR’s ideal path would have been to have one batter stay in until deep and then accelerate late.
Rahane also acknowledged that KKR were entering this match with a settled combination, but the continuing run of defeats has forced the team’s leadership to weigh up alternatives. He said that while the combination used in the previous game appeared to work, the current situation is tough because results are not going KKR’s way. For him, the immediate priority is maintaining belief—staying positive, keeping morale high, and focusing on the match in front of them.
However, he made it clear that the dressing room will have to think through personnel choices if the losses continue. Rahane said they may need to change things, explaining that sometimes outcomes fall in place when you back particular players, but when results do not go your way, the team must reconsider its combination. He closed by reiterating the importance of staying upbeat and keeping heads up as KKR searches for a formula to end the skid.
