Here’s someone who’s touching on 1800 IPL runs. He’s someone who’s almost played around 180 games in the famed Indian Premier League, playing which he’s carved a handy reputation as a destructive opener. Back in the day, he opened and tethered into attacks alongside Gautam Gambhir. Then, on other occasions, he stitched useful stands with either Robin Uthappa or Andre Russell.
But this time around, the big news from the Kolkata Knight Riders corner is that Sunil Narine, a bonafide big star of the IPL will not be opening the batting for his franchise.
Sunil Narine is unlikely to take up the opening role for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026, indicating a possible rethink in the team’s batting approach. Narine, who was used as an aggressive opener in previous seasons to provide quick starts in the powerplay, may now be slotted into a different role as the team looks to bring more stability at the top of the order.
The think tank appears to be considering specialist batters to handle the new ball, allowing Narine to be used more flexibly depending on match situations.
This potential change could also be influenced by team balance, combinations, and conditions, with KKR aiming to strengthen both their batting depth and bowling options.
Narine’s all-round abilities still make him a valuable asset, but his role may now shift away from being a regular opener to a more situational impact player.
If implemented, the move would mark a notable tactical adjustment for KKR, who have previously relied on Narine’s explosive starts to set the tone.
Instead, the focus could now be on building a more consistent foundation at the top while preserving Narine’s utility in the middle overs.
