Mumbai: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are eager to accumulate India batsman KL Rahul by way of a commerce deal for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the TOI has learnt.Rahul performed for Delhi Capitals within the earlier season. In line with a supply, KKR are fascinated with buying the India opener’s companies and have despatched him feelers concerning this.“Nevertheless, the deal is unlikely to work out as KKR do not have anyone they will commerce to the Delhi Capitals in return,” the supply mentioned.A giant cause why KKR could also be fascinated with getting Rahul into their fold is the presence of their assistant coach, former India all-rounder Abhishek Nayar.Throughout his time with the Indian crew as assistant coach, Rahul loved a superb equation with Nayar, and his white-ball resurgence may be attributed to the time he spent working towards and fine-tuning his recreation with Nayar.“I’ve labored actually arduous on my white-ball recreation the final yr or so. Massive shoutout to Abhishek Nayar. I’ve labored lots with him ever since he is come into the Indian crew. We have spent hours and hours collectively speaking about my white-ball recreation and the way I may be higher. We labored hours and hours collectively in Bombay, and someplace I’ve discovered the enjoyable taking part in white-ball cricket,” Rahul had mentioned through the IPL.KKR might even provide captaincy to the 33-year-old Rahul.
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Ought to KKR pursue KL Rahul for IPL 2026?
KKR crashed out on the league stage in IPL 2025. Some dangerous calls — letting go of their 2024 IPL-winning captain Shreyas Iyer and roping in Venkatesh Iyer for ₹23.75 crore — value the franchise closely. The Shah Rukh Khan-owned crew was led by Ajinkya Rahane final season.Rahul was roped in by Delhi Capitals (DC) for ₹14 crore after he parted methods with the Lucknow Tremendous Giants.In the meantime, KKR parted methods with head coach Chandrakant Pandit after three seasons. The franchise additionally let go of bowling coach Bharat Arun, who has joined the Lucknow Tremendous Giants.