IPL 2026: Mumbai batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi is clearly thinking ahead. The young cricketer, who has recently become Rohit Sharma’s new opening partner in List A cricket, has started working on his wicket-keeping skills to broaden his game. This added ability could boost his long-term value, and the Kolkata Knight Riders batter has even hinted that he might take up the gloves in the IPL too.
With KKR reshaping its squad ahead of the upcoming IPL season, competition for places is fierce. Raghuvanshi has already proved his worth in the middle order, but he knows that every player needs to keep improving to stay ahead in such a competitive setup.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi Adds Wicket-Keeping to His Arsenal
The Kolkata Knight Riders went through a near-complete squad overhaul before the next IPL season. While Raghuvanshi has emerged as a dependable option for them, the nature of KKR’s squad building means no spot is guaranteed.
Given how aggressively KKR approached the 2026 IPL mini-auction, players are aware that positions in the playing XI can change quickly. To strengthen his case, Raghuvanshi has started developing new skills, with wicket-keeping now part of his routine.
IPL 2026 – From Teenage Debutant to Key KKR Batter
Angkrish Raghuvanshi made his IPL debut in 2024 at just 19 years of age. Under the guidance of Gautam Gambhir, he featured in the top order for KKR and impressed with his calm batting and solid control. Over the last IPL season, he became one of KKR’s reliable run-scorers.
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More recently, Raghuvanshi has been in action for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was involved in a strong 141-run opening partnership with Rohit Sharma and was later spotted speaking from the sidelines during one of Mumbai’s matches.
When asked about his wicket-keeping training and whether fans could see him behind the stumps for KKR in the IPL, Raghuvanshi shared his thoughts. “I’m really enjoying it. It’s challenging, but it feels like you’re in the game all the time.” He also mentioned that whether he keeps wickets for KKR will be revealed in time.
IPL 2026 – KKR’s Heavy Investment in Wicket-Keeper Tejasvi Dahiya
The Kolkata Knight Riders entered the 2025 IPL auction with the biggest purse and made sure to use it well. They picked up two of the most expensive players in Cameron Green and Matheesha Pathirana, and also broke their own record for the costliest overseas signing, surpassing the earlier mark set with Mitchell Starc.
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Even after these major buys, KKR still had enough funds left. They went all out for Delhi wicket-keeper batter Tejasvi Dahiya, who had caught attention with his performances in the Delhi Premier League.
Dahiya has shown promise with the bat as well. In just two List A matches, he scored a century before playing his third List A game for Delhi against Saurashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26. He also boasts solid T20 numbers, averaging 56.50 and scoring 113 runs in four matches during this season’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
IPL 2026 – Finn Allen and Tim Seifert Add Firepower to KKR
Despite trying hard, KKR were unable to secure players like Sanju Samson or KL Rahul through trades. As a result, they turned their attention to New Zealand wicket-keepers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert.
While Allen is not frequently used as a keeper by his national side or franchises, he is still a wicket-keeper by skill and is known for his explosive opening batting. Seifert brings similar attacking ability and is more regularly seen wearing the gloves.
KKR picked up Allen and Seifert at their base prices of INR 2 crores and INR 1.5 crores. Seifert has already made headlines by scoring a century in the opening match of the Big Bash League for the Melbourne Renegades. Allen has also looked in good touch, scoring 138 runs in three matches for the Perth Scorchers.
With strong competition and multiple wicket-keeping options in the squad, Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s decision to expand his skillset could prove to be a smart move as he looks to cement his place in KKR’s playing XI.
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