“Pathirana will go there for sure” - Kris Srikkanth suggests team for former CSK star in IPL 2026 auction

Former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth believes the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will acquire Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana in the IPL 2026 auction on December 16. The 22-year-old was with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in his first four IPL seasons from 2022 to 2025.

Pathirana also helped the franchise win its fifth IPL title with 19 wickets in the 2023 season. However, he was expensive and off-color in IPL 2025, conceding runs at an economy of over 10, resulting in CSK releasing him.

Meanwhile, KKR released several star players ahead of the auction, resulting in them boasting the highest purse of ₹64.30 crore.

Talking about the pace-bowling options KKR could go for in the IPL 2026 auction, Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel (41:05):

"Pathirana will go there for sure as Bravo is there and he trained Pathirana. They will also go for Mustafizur. Vaibhav Arora got him plenty of times last season. So they need a few pace-bowling options."

Srikkanth backed KKR to almost certainly buy Cameron Green and one of Quinton de Kock or Jonny Bairstow.

"Along with Cameron Green, they should go for Quinton de Kock. Yes, they released De Kock, but they might probably get him again in the auction. De Kock is in brilliant form, and he's used to Indian conditions. I'll go all-out for Cameron Green and Quinton de Kock. They'll definitely get both as they've the maximum purse and they need them especially without Andre Russell. If not De Kock, they can go for Jonny Bairstow. It has to be Cameron Green and one of De Kock or Bairstow. They need an explosive opener for sure," he said.

KKR struggled in their title defense in IPL 2025, finishing eighth with only five wins in 14 matches.

"KL Rahul will bat at No. 3 or 4" - Kris Srikkanth

Kris Srikkanth believes KL Rahul will not open the batting for the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the 2026 IPL season. Instead, the former opener backed the franchise to acquire South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock in the 2026 auction and have him open with Abishek Porel.

"I'll go for Quinton de Kock and make him open with Abishek Porel. And KL Rahul will bat at No. 3 or 4. They'll become a very good team if they do this," said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).

Rahul batted in the DC's middle order for most of the IPL 2025 season as the side missed out on playoff qualification, finishing fifth on the standings. They will enter the 2026 auction with a purse of ₹21.80 crore.