Kolkata Knight Riders are preparing for IPL 2026, but former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin believes the team may struggle in the title race this year. While he expects KKR to fight hard in the tournament, he feels injuries and a weakened bowling attack could make it difficult for them to win their fourth IPL trophy.
The new IPL season begins on March 28, and Ashwin shared his views about the team’s chances in a recent YouTube discussion. According to him, KKR’s famous motto “Korbo Lorbo Jeetbo Re” shows their fighting spirit, but he is not sure whether the “Jeetbo” (winning) part will come true this season.
Ashwin explains KKR’s situation before IPL 2026
Ashwin pointed out that Kolkata Knight Riders have enjoyed success in the past with strong leadership. The team won two IPL titles under Gautam Gambhir and another title when Shreyas Iyer was captain. However, both Gambhir and Iyer are no longer leading the team, which could affect the team’s performance.
He believes that leadership changes often impact team balance and confidence. Without the previous leadership group, KKR may find it harder to reach the playoffs or challenge for the championship this year.
KKR have also made major changes in their coaching setup. The franchise replaced Chandrakant Pandit with former India cricketer Abhishek Nayar as the new head coach. The team management hopes this change will bring a fresh approach ahead of the new season.
KKR squad changes before IPL 2026
Before the IPL mini auction, Kolkata Knight Riders had a large purse and made several important signings to strengthen their squad.
Here are some of the key players KKR added to their squad:
| Player | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Cameron Green | All-rounder | Australia |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Fast Bowler | Bangladesh |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Fast Bowler | Sri Lanka |
| Blessing Muzarabani | Fast Bowler | Zimbabwe |
However, the team soon faced several problems. Mustafizur Rahman had to leave the squad due to BCCI instructions. Harshit Rana, one of the key bowlers for the team, was ruled out of IPL 2026 because of injury. Meanwhile, Matheesha Pathirana’s participation remained uncertain as he had not received a No-Objection Certificate from Sri Lanka Cricket.
These issues have created doubts about the strength of KKR’s bowling attack for the upcoming season.
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KKR injury and availability concerns
Several bowlers who were expected to play an important role are currently unavailable or uncertain for the tournament.
| Player | Status for IPL 2026 |
|---|---|
| Harshit Rana | Ruled out due to injury |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Released due to BCCI instruction |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Participation uncertain |
Because of these setbacks, the team brought in Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani to strengthen the bowling department.
Ashwin’s concerns about KKR bowling attack
Ashwin explained that after the IPL auction he initially believed KKR had built a strong bowling lineup. But with key bowlers missing, the situation has changed.
He said that Mustafizur Rahman is no longer in the squad, Pathirana is dealing with injury concerns, and Harshit Rana has already been ruled out. According to Ashwin, these absences have created a big gap in the bowling attack.
He also praised Blessing Muzarabani for his hard work and said he is happy to see the Zimbabwe pacer get an opportunity in the IPL. However, Ashwin believes that one bowler alone may not be enough to carry the entire bowling unit.
According to him, someone needs to step up and take responsibility for the bowling attack, but at the moment he cannot clearly see who will do that job.
KKR’s IPL title history
Kolkata Knight Riders have been one of the successful franchises in IPL history. The team has won the tournament multiple times but has not lifted the trophy in recent years.
| Year | Result | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Champions | Gautam Gambhir |
| 2014 | Champions | Gautam Gambhir |
| 2018 | Champions | Shreyas Iyer |
Since their last title win, the franchise has been trying to rebuild a squad capable of challenging for the championship again.
Despite the concerns, Ashwin believes KKR will still fight hard during the tournament. The team has talented players and strong fan support, which always makes them a competitive side in the IPL.
However, the success of their IPL 2026 campaign will largely depend on how their available bowlers perform and whether new players can step up to fill the gaps created by injuries and squad changes.
With the IPL season starting on March 28, fans will soon see whether Kolkata Knight Riders can overcome these challenges and prove Ashwin’s doubts wrong.
