Mumbai Indians will begin their quest to end a five-year title drought in the Indian Premier League against a depleted Kolkata Knight Riders side.
The Kolkata Knight Riders face significant challenges heading into IPL 2026, including key player injuries and the need to integrate new acquisitions into the squad.
Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah swung the momentum in Mumbai Indians' favour, restricting KKR after a blazing start in the IPL 2026 clash at the Wankhede.
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns over the bowling strength of Kolkata Knight Riders, saying opposition teams may no longer feel threatened by their attack.
Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad have announced replacements for injured players ahead of IPL 2026.
Faf du Plessis called upon KKR to prepare spin-friendly pitches for their home games at Eden Gardens, which will bring their spin duo Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy into contention.
Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh criticised Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane for his tactics during their IPL match against Mumbai Indians, particularly his underutilisation of Sunil Narine against Rohit Sharma. Irfan Pathan praised Shardul Thakur's bowling performance.
Navdeep Saini has been named as Harshit Rana's replacement in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad for the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Kulwant Khejroliya will replace Prithviraj Yarra in the Gujarat Titans squad.
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane was forced to leave the field during their IPL match against Mumbai Indians due to apparent cramps, with Rinku Singh taking over the captaincy.
Rinku Singh has been a part of KKR for the last seven seasons, having joined the franchise for Rs 80 lakh at the 2018 IPL Players' Auction.
Ajinkya Rahane remains captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders despite a disappointing 2025 season. He emphasises a positive mindset and embracing challenges as the team heads into IPL 2026 with a revamped squad.
Cricket Australia said the Kolkata Knight Riders' management is "fully aware" that Cameron Green would be unavailable to bowl in the first few games of IPL 2026.
Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah is available to play in the team's first match of the Indian Premier League 2026 against Kolkata Knight Riders. Bumrah had previously been at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence for workload management.
Shardul Thakur stars with a match-winning spell for Mumbai Indians, calling his Wankhede outing special as MI chase 221 to beat KKR in IPL 2026.
Kolkata Knight Riders' new head coach, Abhishek Nayar, emphasises the importance of finding the right team combinations as their biggest challenge ahead of IPL 2026, despite a revamped squad with new players.
Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman for IPL 2026, which is scheduled to start on March 28.
Kolkata Knight Riders suffer a significant setback as pacer Harshit Rana is ruled out of IPL 2026 due to a ligament injury sustained during a warm-up match. The team is now evaluating replacements, with trials underway to find a suitable player before their opening match against Mumbai Indians.
Faf du Plessis acknowledges Gautam Gambhir's competitive leadership style, highlighting its positive impact on teams like Kolkata Knight Riders. He emphasises Gambhir's high standards and accountability, noting the importance of strong leadership beyond just the captain's role in franchise cricket.
Kolkata Knight Riders are reportedly set to sign left-arm pacer Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for injured India seamer Akash Deep for IPL 2026.
Why didn't KKR's 25.20 crore buy Green bowl? Irked Rahane says "Ask Cricket Australia "
Rinku Singh's dip in form and Varun Chakravarthy's confidence issues pose key challenges for KKR ahead of IPL 2026, says Irfan Pathan.
Former India captain Anil Kumble has criticised Kolkata Knight Riders for releasing key players Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt after their IPL victory, suggesting it undermines their chances of future success. He also praises Shreyas Iyer's leadership and Cheteshwar Pujara compares SRH's opening pair to Kohli and Gayle.
Indian pacer Harshit Rana is expected to miss a significant portion of the IPL 2026 season due to a knee injury, impacting Kolkata Knight Riders' campaign. The article also discusses other changes in the KKR squad.
Kolkata Knight Riders face a setback as India seamer Akash Deep is ruled out of IPL 2024 due to a back injury, adding to their growing list of injured fast bowlers.
Rohit Sharma produced a match-defining half-century against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday to underline that his appetite for runs remains as strong as ever.
Mumbai and Kolkata Knight Riders' batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi says he judges his performances with how his team fares while he keeps working on multiplying his skills as a top order-batter and wicketkeeper.
Kolkata Knight Riders' all-rounder Ramandeep Singh is enthusiastic about the arrival of Shane Watson and Andre Russell as coaches, believing their expertise will significantly enhance his game ahead of the IPL 2026 season.
Harshit Rana has reportedly been ruled out of IPL 2026 after undergoing knee surgery following an injury during an India warm-up match.
Ahead of IPL 2026, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns over the role of Cameron Green at Kolkata Knight Riders, suggesting the franchise should consider cutting his pay if he does not bowl his full quota.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is preparing to take legal action against Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani for breaching his Pakistan Super League contract with Islamabad United to sign with KKR in the IPL.
New Zealand's Finn Allen, known for his aggressive batting style, is set to join Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL, exciting fans with his potential impact.
Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene explains that Suryakumar Yadav's role as an impact substitute in the IPL opener was a precautionary measure due to a minor groin issue.
KKR appoints Dishant Yagnik as fielding coach ahead of IPL 2026
Kolkata Knight Riders coach Shane Watson believes Cameron Green will not be affected by his high price tag and will play with freedom. Watson also mentioned Angkrish Raghuvanshi's readiness as a wicketkeeper and the team's efforts to bring Matheesha Pathirana to the squad.
Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored half-centuries as Kolkata Knight Riders posted a total of 220 for 4 against Mumbai Indians in their IPL match.
Cameron Green has also been in focus during his stint with IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders, with Cricket Australia managing his workload due to a lower back injury.
Rohit Sharma smashes fastest IPL fifty and leads Mumbai Indians to record 221 chase against KKR, ending 13-year opening match jinx at Wankhede.
KKR acquired the left-arm pacer for Rs 9.20 crore (Rs 92 million) at last month's IPL mini auction in Abu Dhabi, making him the most expensive Bangladeshi player in IPL history.
15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashes a 15-ball fifty and other sensational stats as Rajasthan Royals crush CSK by eight wickets in their IPL 2026 opener.
Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani celebrated the team's victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, marking their first IPL season-opener win since 2012. She highlighted the team's evolution since their last victory, noting the absence of key players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah in the 2012 squad.
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