NEW DELHI: With IPL 2026 around the corner, Kolkata Knight Riders find themselves under the scanner, and former cricketers Lakshmipathy Balaji and Faf du Plessis have laid out a detailed roadmap for the three-time champions. From batting order clarity to handling marquee pressure and addressing bowling concerns, both experts highlighted key areas KKR must get right ahead of their high-profile campaign opener against Mumbai Indians on March 29.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Balaji was particularly emphatic about the role of skipper Ajinkya Rahane, insisting he must anchor the top order rather than float in the middle.“I always feel that KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane should bat in the top order. He shouldn’t bat at anything less than number three,” Balaji said on JioHotstar. “He has done phenomenally well… so him batting one down would be good for both him and KKR.”Balaji proposed an aggressive top four featuring Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rahane and Cameron Green, calling it the “go-to” combination.With title-winning core players no longer part of the setup, he stressed the need for fresh contributors. “Somebody needs to step in now. Probably, Cameron Green or Finn Allen. And of course, you have a young talent like Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Their time has come now. If they do well, KKR will get massive momentum.”Faf backs Green but flags pressure and expectationsDu Plessis echoed the focus on Green, calling him a “multi-skilled marquee buy” but warning of the pressure that comes with his hefty price tag.“Cameron Green is a highly talented guy… he is a complete package. He balances KKR’s team very well,” Du Plessis said. “But form has not been on his side recently… there is a lot of weight on his shoulders. The team will expect a lot from him.”He also backed the explosive Kiwi pair at the top. “We all saw the carnage they displayed in the T20 World Cup… having both of them open is perfect for the way T20 cricket is played now.”Bowling concerns and spin key to KKR’s successHowever, Du Plessis raised serious concerns about KKR’s bowling depth, especially with injuries affecting key players.“The question mark is their bowling. With the injuries they have, they almost need to pick an experienced player… and bring that required experience into their bowling attack,” he said.He also emphasised the importance of utilising spin duo Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine.“They are two of the best T20 spinners… for KKR to be successful, Varun and Narine need to fire. The pitch should be prepared keeping those two players in mind.”
