Three-time champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) enjoyed a season of two halves during the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). The Ajinkya Rahane-led side ended the season in seventh position with 13 points to their name from 14 matches.
KKR had a poor start to the season and went on to suffer five defeats from their opening six matches of the campaign to sit firmly at the foot of the standings. However, following a four-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals, the Kolkata-based franchise won five of their next seven matches to give them an outside chance of qualifying for the playoffs up until the last day of the group phase.Â
Despite their turnaround in the second half of the season, KKR have a lot to ponder ahead of the 2027 season, with wholesale changes expected to take place between now and the start of the new campaign. Having last won the championship in 2024, the Knight Riders will want to return to becoming title contenders sooner rather than later.Â
Here are 3 changes KKR should make ahead of IPL 2027:
3. Sign a designated wicketkeeper in the mini-auction
Despite being touted as one of KKR’s brightest talents with the bat, it is safe to say that Angkrish Raghuvanshi is not an outright wicketkeeper and just a makeshift option behind the stumps. The 21-year-old took five catches and performed one stumping across the 2026 IPL season and did not look convincing in doing so.
The Knight Riders should therefore commit to buying an out-and-out wicketkeeper during the upcoming mini auction to have a safe pair behind the wickets. It is worth mentioning that the team does have a regular wicketkeeper within their ranks in Tim Seifert.
The New Zealand international, however, is not a first-choice pick in the playing XI, and including him in the side could hamper KKR’s team composition. The side should look to either get a proven Indian wicketkeeper or an overseas option who would walk into the side, like how they had Phil Salt in 2024.Â
