NEW DELHI: With IPL 2026 around the corner, Kolkata Knight Riders find themselves in the limelight, and former cricketers Lakshmipati Balaji And Faf du Plessis A detailed road map has been prepared for the three-time champions. From clarifying the batting order to handling marquee pressure and addressing bowling concerns, the two experts shed light on key aspects that KKR must address ahead of the start of their high-profile campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Balaji was particularly emphatic about the role of the captain. Ajinkya Rahaneinsisting that he anchor the top order rather than float in the middle.Balaji said on JioHotstar, “I always feel that KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane should bat in the top order. He should not bat below number three.” “He has done exceptionally well… so batting that one down will be good for both him and KKR.”Balaji proposed an aggressive top four. Finn AllenTim Seifert, Rahane et al Cameron Greenecall it the “Go To” collection.Title-winning core players are no longer part of the set-up, he said, stressing the need for new partners. “Someone needs to step up now. Maybe, Cameron Green or Finn Allen. And of course, you have a young talent like Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Now is their time. If they perform well, KKR will get a lot of momentum.”Faf supports Green but flags the pressure and expectations.Du Plessis focused on Green, calling him a “multi-talented marquee buy” but warned of the pressures that come with his hefty price tag.“Cameron Green is a very talented guy… he is a complete package. He balances the KKR team very well,” du Plessis said. “But the form is not on his side recently. There is a lot of weight on his shoulders. The team will expect a lot from him.”They also supported the Kiwi duo at the top. “The kind of carnage we all saw in the T20 World Cup… both of them opening up is perfect for the way T20 cricket is played now.”Bowling concerns and spin key to KKR’s successDu Plessis, however, expressed serious concern about KKR’s bowling depth, especially with injuries to key players.“The question mark is their bowling. With their injuries, they almost need to pick an experienced player… and bring that much-needed experience to their bowling attack,” he said.He also stressed the importance of using spin duo Varun Chakraborty. Sunil Narayan.“They are two of the best T20 spinners… Varun and Narine need to be dismissed for KKR to be successful. The pitch should be designed with these two players in mind.”
