Varun & Rahane (R) (Source: AFP)The Middle East war, which has been a major talking point in the world for a while now, has impacted the Indian Premier League (IPL) as well. And it was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) who were at the receiving end of it, as cricket’s biggest carnival, IPL 2026 not too far away.A report by The Crichub stated that KKR’s important players – Sunil Narine, Cameron Green, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen – along with Rachin Ravindra and Rovman Powell have all been affected by the air travel disruptions, thanks to the US-Israel-Iran war.In addition, Dwayne Bravo, the KKR mentor who succeeded Gautam Gambhir after IPL 2024 triumph, as well as new power coach Andre Russell, faced the off-the-field challenges as well.More Troubles For KKR Ahead Of IPL 2026Talking about the players, Sunil Narine is still awaiting a UK transit visa, while the arrival of the New Zealand trio – Seifert, Allen and Rachin – has been delayed until March 19 due to flight issues.In addition to this, Green – KKR’s INR 25.2 Crore IPL buy, will join the camp on March 20 for the very same reason. Powell and Russell, in all likelihood, will be there by March 24, while Bravo had to travel via Europe due to current Middle East tensions.Also Read: CSK Warned As Sanju Samson Not Right For Captaincy, Gaikwad To Lead In IPL 2026KKR have already been dealt with multiple concerns. They don’t know when their INR 18-crore IPL auction buy Matheesha Pathirana will be fit for the upcoming edition. Mustafizur Rahman, another big-money buy, will not be around due to the current India-Bangladesh geopolitical relationship.Now, with players delaying their arrival at the KKR camp due to Middle East tensions, things could only get worse for the Purple and Gold Brigade ahead of IPL 2026, scheduled to begin on March 26 with RCB taking on SRH in Bengaluru.KKR IPL 2026 ScheduleWith the BCCI only announcing 20 fixtures for IPL 2026 due to Assembly Election date concerns, KKR know who their first four opponents will be in the upcoming edition.KKR’s IPL 2026 journey will begin on March 29, with three-time champions going head to head with five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.After that, KKR will be playing against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), last season’s runner-up, Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), all three at their den, Eden Gardens, Kolkata.The scheduled dates of these fixtures are April 2, April 6 and April 9, all from 7:30 PM onwards, including the MI vs KKR match.Manvinder Bisla Joins KKR Before IPL 2026 As Head Of ScoutMeanwhile, KKR appointed Manvinder Bisla, their first-ever IPL title-winning hero, as their new head of scouting ahead of IPL 2026. Bisla, who made 89 off 48 balls against the MS Dhoni-led CSK in the all-important IPL 2012 final, that too in Chennai, will take up the new responsibility, as confirmed by their head coach Abhishek Nayar.Also Read: CSK Warned As Sanju Samson Not Right For Captaincy, Gaikwad To Lead In IPL 2026
