IPL 2026: 5 sixes, 9 fours! KKR's 21-year-old blasts brutal ton, rivals on alert
Young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi's blistering 103* in a KKR intra-squad match has created a selection headache for the team. With a revamped squad featuring new overseas stars, head coach Abhishek Nayar faces the challenge of finalising combinations for their IPL 2026 campaign opener against Mumbai Indians on March 29.
NEW DELHI: Young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has given Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) management and head coach Abhishek Nayar a welcome selection headache with his explosive hitting in a pre-season intra-squad match at Eden Gardens on Friday. Batting at No. 3, the 21-year-old smashed a stunning unbeaten 103 off just 55 balls, an innings laced with nine fours and five sixes, at a strike rate of 187.
27. His knock powered Purple Knights to a successful chase of 200 in 19. 2 overs.
Three-time IPL champions KKR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium. With multiple opening options and a revamped squad, Nayar admitted that finalising the right combinations remains KKR’s biggest challenge ahead of the season. Having overhauled their squad after a disappointing 2025 campaign, KKR have added big names such as Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Tim Seifert and Rachin Ravindra, but are yet to lock in their batting order.
"I'm terrible at predicting what can go wrong, but I can just tell you, I don't know how the tournament will pan out, but I think initially, it's making sure we get a fit playing XI come (March) 29th," Nayar said during the team’s first media interaction of the season. KKR, who finished eighth last year with just five wins, are also set to field a new opening combination in the absence of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Quinton de Kock. The explosive New Zealand duo of Allen and Seifert — who recently put together a record 117-run stand at Eden Gardens to eliminate South Africa in a T20 World Cup semifinal — are among the frontrunners.