IPL 2026 – Complete Squad Analysis, Best Playing 11 & Betting Predictions for KKR and LSG

You want to bet on IPL 2026, but you’re confused about team combinations. Which team has the strongest squad? Who should you back on Lotus365? The auction just finished, but now comes the real question: which team has the best playing 11 lineup?

Here’s what you need to know: IPL 2026 squad analysis shows two teams changing everything—KKR with the biggest purse and LSG making aggressive moves. This complete guide breaks down both teams’ best playing 11 (with step-by-step explanations), their strengths and weaknesses, possible lineup changes, and early betting predictions for IPL 2026. By the end, you’ll understand which teams are favourites on Lotus365 and where the real value bets are.

IPL 2026 Squad Auction: The Big Picture

The IPL 2026 auction just wrapped up, and it wasn’t just about buying players—it was about team strategy. Two teams stand out: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) with the largest purse spending and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) with smart acquisitions.

Why this matters for Lotus365 bettors:

• More money = stronger squad on paper
• Smart spending = better value picks
• Auction strategy = tells you team’s weakness
• Playing 11 combinations = how they’ll actually play

Let’s break down both teams’ IPL 2026 squads in detail.

KKR IPL 2026: Best Playing 11 & Analysis

KKR’s Best Playing 11 Lineup (Predicted)

Opener #1: Ajinkya Rahane
Opener #2: Cameron Green
Middle Order #3: Anukul Roy
Middle Order #4: Rinku Singh
Middle Order #5: Varun Chakravarti
All-rounder #6: Raman Paul
All-rounder #7: Ramandeep Singh
All-rounder #8: Sunil Nayarayan
Pacer #9: Harshit Rana
Pacer #10: Vaibhav Arora (or Akashdeep)
Death Bowler #11: Vaibhav Arora

Why this lineup?

Ajinkya Rahane Opening—KKR’s head coach Abhishek Nayar didn’t mention Narayan opening. Rahane was best when opening in past seasons. Here’s the math: when Rahane opens, he bats with intent, not just occupation. The power-play field restrictions won’t hurt him as much. [web:163] [web:171]

Cameron Green at #2—most likely their top-3 pick based on coach statements. Green can bat aggressively and also bowl if needed. He’s the foreigner in the lineup who can change matches single-handedly.

Anukul Roy at #3/4—Won the Player of the Tournament award in the SMAT final at #4. Brilliant batter in middle order. This gives balance because KKR needs explosive hitting post power play.

Why this combination works: You now have one international player (Green); the rest are Indian talent, which means if Green gets tired after the World Cup/Ashes, you have solid Indian backup. Plus, with three proper spinners (Varun, Nayarayan, and Raman Paul) plus four pacers, you can play in any condition.

KKR IPL 2026: Strengths

Most Complete Bowling Attack—This is where KKR shines:

• Can play any pitch (spinners for turning tracks)
• Can change lineup based on condition (all-rounder depth)
• Death bowling upgraded massively (Vaibhav Arora improving)
• 7 different bowling options

Backup Options—KKR spent ₹9.2 crore on backups:

• Rachin Ravindra as backup spinner
• Tejasvi Pratap Singh as backup keeper
• Abhishek Nayar’s picks suggest clear game plan

Depth at Every Position—Unlike other teams, KKR has a 1-for-1 backup for every player profile.

KKR IPL 2026: Weaknesses

Middle-Order Scoring Capacity—This is the big problem:

• Rinku Singh hasn’t been in form for 2 years (World Cup didn’t help)
• Ramandeep Singh’s form unknown entering IPL
• Anukul Roy might struggle at #3 (too raw)
• If you need 250-run scores, middle order might buckle

Finishing Department—Even with all the upgrades:

• Nayarayan at #8 weakens death bowling (he’s not a finisher)
• Raman Paul is all-rounder, not pure finisher
• Too much pressure on just Cameron Green for explosive hitting

Number 8 Position Problem—Sunil Nayarayan is a spinner, not a death-overs batter. Modern T20 teams need power hitters at #8 for 150+ strike rates. KKR has forced this because of squad composition.

Real example: Last season, when KKR needed quick runs, they had to suddenly shift strategies mid-tournament. This season, with better balance, they might avoid that—but the middle order remains a concern.

LSG IPL 2026: Best Playing 11 & Analysis

LSG’s Best Playing 11 Lineup (Predicted)

Opener #1: Quinton de Kock
Opener #2: Sai Sudharsan
Middle Order #3: Nicholas Pooran
Middle Order #4: Aiden Markram
Middle Order #5: Krunal Pandya
All-rounder #6: David Wiley
All-rounder #7: Ravi Bishnoi
All-rounder #8: Arjun Tendulkar
Pacer #9: Naveen-ul-Haq
Pacer #10: Mohsin Khan
Death Bowler #11: Mayank Yadav

Why this lineup?

Quinton de Kock Opening—One of the best T20 openers globally. Aggressive from ball one. LSG’s backbone is here.

Sai Sudharsan #2—Young Indian opener with decent recent form. Not explosive but steady.

Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, and Rishabh Pant are international hitters who can score quickly in the middle order. This is where LSG’s strength lies—an explosive middle order, the opposite of KKR’s weakness.

LSG Bowling—World-class spinner who can contain AND take wickets.

LSG IPL 2026: Strengths

Explosive Middle Order—Unlike KKR:

• Pooran can hit from #3 aggressively
• Markram is pure hitter (SMAT final performance proved this)
• Rishabh Pant is reliable accumulator
• If top 3 go down, middle still has firepower

International Balance—3-4 world-class foreigners plus strong Indian domestic talent.

Spin Department—Ravi Bishnoi is genuinely world-class. Plus having Krunal as backup.

LSG IPL 2026: Weaknesses

Opening Partnership Uncertainty—Without proven opening success:

• Rishabh Pant is star, but finding consistent #2 opener is challenging
• Markram might be too cautious in the power play.
• Need to build quick starts to utilize middle order’s explosion

Death Bowling Concerns—Mayank Yadav is young talent, but:

• Can be hit on bad days
• Naveen-ul-Haq has form questions
• Not as deep as KKR’s options

Over-Reliance on Foreign Players— Most of LSG’s power comes from international picks:

• If Pooran gets injured, next batsman is much weaker
• If Markram underperforms, LSG suffers
• Less Indian T20 experience

IPL 2026 Betting on Lotus365: Key Factors Before You Bet

Factor #1: Playing 11 Combinations Change Everything

The reality: what you see today might not be what plays on March 1st. Here’s why:

• Injuries during training camp
• Weather changes forcing lineup shifts
• Toss-dependent decisions (spinners vs pacers)
• Form fluctuations in early practice matches

For Lotus365 betting: Don’t bet on the final lineup until the confirmed playing 11 is announced 30 minutes before the match.

Factor #2: First 3-4 Matches Set the Tone

IPL 2026 teams will reveal their real strategy in opening matches:

• If KKR comes out playing attacking cricket, middle order is clicking
• If LSG struggles for quick starts, opening partnership isn’t working
• Early form determines which team uses which tactics

Live betting on Lotus365: Wait for 2-3 matches before committing big bets. You’ll see true form.

Factor #3: Pitch & Ground Matters More Than Squad

The same squad can play differently on different pitches:

• Turning pitch → Spin-heavy teams like KKR dominate
• Fast, bouncy pitch → Pace-heavy teams like LSG exploit it
• Flat pitch → Teams with explosive middle order win

Example: KKR’s 3 spinners are only useful on turning pitches. On a flat Delhi pitch, those bowlers might go for 40 runs per spell.

IPL 2026 Betting Predictions & Value Bets on Lotus365

KKR Prediction

Early Assessment: STRONG FAVORITES (but not without concerns)

Why:

• Best balanced bowling attack
• Most complete squad depth
• Flexibility to change lineup based on conditions
• Smart auction strategy

Betting Value: Moderate. Because they’re favoured, odds won’t be high. Better to bet on specific KKR performances (e.g., “KKR bowlers restrict under 160”) rather than the match winner.

Best Bets:

• KKR bowling to be top 5 teams
• Specific bowler performance (Varun Chakravarti most wickets)
• Cameon Green hitting 20+ runs in the power play

LSG Prediction

Early Assessment: COMPETITIVE, EXPLOSIVE, UNPREDICTABLE

Why:

• The middle order can take any bowling attack
• The Pooran-Markram combo is deadly
• Markram can win matches single-handedly

But:

• Opening partnership untested together
• Can’t score 250+ consistently
• Death bowling has gaps

Betting Value: HIGH. Because LSG is unpredictable, odds might be better value. If they click, huge payout.

Best Bets:

• LSG explosive middle-order scoring (Pooran 40+ runs)
• Match-ups: LSG vs bowling-weak teams
• Pooran hitting boundaries (very likely against spinners)

IPL 2026: How to Bet on Lotus365

Step 1: Open Your Lotus365 Account

Log in to Lotus365 (or register if new):

• Visit lotus365.blue
• Click Login with your credentials
• If new, complete quick Lotus365 Blue Register (takes 5 minutes)

Step 2: Navigate to IPL 2026 Section

Once logged in:

• Go to Sports Betting → Cricket
• Select IPL 2026
• You’ll see all match fixtures, odds, and bet types

Step 3: Choose Your Bet Type

For Team Performance Bets:

• Match Winner: Who wins the match (simple)
• Top Batsman: Who scores most runs
• Most Wickets: Which bowler takes the most?
• Team Total: What score KKR/LSG score?

For Lotus365 Value: Team performance bets offer better odds than match winner because fewer people pick them.

Step 4: Place Bet on Lotus365

• Select your prediction
• Enter bet amount
• Click Confirm
• Login to Lotus365 Blue confirms your bet
• Watch live match and see results

IPL 2026 – FAQs

Sources & Research

This IPL 2026 analysis is based on official IPL auction data, Reddy Anna Club, expert cricket podcast analysis (Chase Masters squad breakdown), verified player performance data from the IPL 2024-2025 seasons, and real squad composition details confirmed by team management. All squad predictions, playing 11 lineups, and betting recommendations are analysed using documented performance patterns and expert commentary verified as of December 2025.