KKR's Rs 9.2 Crore Buy Mustafizur Rahman To Miss Part Of IPL 2026? Report Makes Big Claim

A recent report by India Today suggests that Mustafizur Rahman, the Bangladesh fast bowler acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs 9.2 crore, may be unavailable for a portion of the IPL 2026 season. KKR also secured Sri Lanka's Matheesha Pathirana for Rs 18 crore in the same auction.

The report cites sources within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), indicating that Rahman is likely to miss matches scheduled between April 16th and 23rd. This unavailability stems from a scheduling conflict with Bangladesh's home series against New Zealand, which includes both One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.

The IPL 2026 season is reportedly set to take place from March 26th to May 31st. While Rahman isn't a regular fixture in Bangladesh's ODI team, he is a key player in their T20I squad. According to the report, the BCB will issue Rahman a partial No Objection Certificate (NOC). This will allow him to participate in the T20I series against New Zealand before returning to India to rejoin KKR.

KKR's Strategy at the IPL 2026 Auction

Kolkata Knight Riders made headlines at the IPL 2026 mini-auction with strategic acquisitions, including Cameron Green, Matheesha Pathirana, and Mustafizur Rahman. The team also bolstered its roster with the additions of Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, and Rahul Tripathi. KKR's focus on emerging Indian talent was evident in their selections, which reflected a balanced approach and long-term planning, according to a team release.

Key Player Acquisitions

KKR aggressively pursued Australian batter Cameron Green, ultimately winning a bidding war against Chennai Super Kings to secure him for Rs 25.20 crore. This purchase made Green the most expensive overseas player in IPL auction history. Green is known for his power-hitting and has scored 964 runs in 63 T20 matches, including 707 runs in two IPL seasons at a strike rate of 153.70, with a highest score of an unbeaten 100.

The team also competed fiercely for Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana, ultimately outbidding the Lucknow Super Giants to sign him for INR 18 crore. Pathirana, an IPL winner in 2023, brings significant pace and wicket-taking ability to KKR's attack, having taken 136 wickets in 101 T20 matches, including 47 wickets in 32 IPL matches.

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Finn Allen, known for his explosive hitting, was picked up at his base price of Rs 2 crore. Allen has an impressive record of 4,431 runs in 162 T20 matches, averaging 28.77 with a strike rate of 173.90. Rachin Ravindra, also from New Zealand, was signed for Rs 2 crore to strengthen the top-order batting options.

Returning Players and Emerging Talent

Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert rejoined KKR for Rs 1.50 crore, while top-order batter Rahul Tripathi was signed for INR 75 lakh. Additionally, local player Akash Deep will join the team after being acquired for Rs 1 crore.

Kolkata Knight Riders also demonstrated their commitment to nurturing young Indian talent by signing uncapped players Tejasvi Singh (Rs 3 crore), Kartik Tyagi (Rs 30 lakh), Prashant Solanki (Rs 30 lakh), Sarthak Ranjan (Rs 30 lakh), and Daksh Kamra (Rs 30 lakh).