IPL 2026: KKR make big change; Rahane opts to bat in must-win clash vs Gujarat Titans

NEW DELHI: Winless and under mounting pressure, Kolkata Knight Riders made a bold call at the toss, bringing in Tim Seifert for Finn Allen as they elected to bat first against Gujarat Titans in their Indian Premier League match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.With four defeats to start their IPL 2026 campaign, KKR are desperate to turn things around, and skipper Ajinkya Rahane made it clear that the team is looking to reset its approach.IPL 2026: GT vs KKR Live Score

Seifert comes in as KKR shuffle XI

The biggest talking point ahead of the game was KKR’s change at the top, with Seifert replacing Allen in the playing XI. The move signals a shift in strategy as the franchise looks for a spark in their faltering batting unit.“Just one change. Tim Seifert comes in place of Finn Allen,” Rahane confirmed at the toss, underlining the importance of fresh energy in a struggling lineup.KKR have tried multiple combinations in both batting first and chasing scenarios this season, but results have not followed. The inclusion of Seifert is seen as an attempt to stabilise the top order while adding experience and composure.

‘Play fearless cricket’: Rahane’s message

Rahane explained the decision to bat first, emphasising freedom and intent as the core philosophy.“We just want our batters to play freely, with freedom. The kind of tournament we’ve had so far, we’ve tried everything.

I thought giving that freedom to the batters and then defending the total would be a good approach,” he said.He also stressed the importance of mindset over data. “Sometimes you don’t have to depend too much on stats. It’s about what you feel as a team. We just want to turn it around.”Backing his players despite the poor run, Rahane added, “It’s about staying confident, backing each other in tough times. We have good characters.

T20 is about momentum — winning small moments. Today, we just want to play fearless cricket.”

GT stick to winning formula

Meanwhile, Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill admitted he would have preferred to bowl first, citing possible dew later in the evening.“Honestly, we would have bowled first. As the weather gets hotter, there might be some dew,” Gill said, while also pointing to a middle-order collapse in their previous outing.“It’s about doing the simple things consistently. Don’t complicate it too much,” he added, confirming that GT are unchanged for the clash.With GT eyeing a top-four push and KKR chasing their first win, the stakes couldn’t be higher as Rahane’s men look to justify their bold call and new combination.GT vs KKR Playing XIs:

GT vs KKR Impact Subs:Kolkata Knight Riders: Varun Chakaravarthy, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Dahiya, Navdeep Saini, Manish PandeyGujarat Titans: Jason Holder, Shahrukh Khan, Manav Suthar, Kulwant Khejroliya, Anuj Rawat