![Manish Pandey [Source: @KKRiders/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1774280149665_ManishPandey.jpg?type=hq)
Manish Pandey [Source: @KKRiders/x]
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players have ramped up their preparations for IPL 2026 with a high-intensity intra-squad clash. The franchise also appears to be raising its fielding standards as it sets its sights on a fourth title.
During their intra-squad match on Monday, March 23, i.e., just a few days prior to the launch of the IPL 2026 season, senior campaigner Manish Pandey pulled off a couple of screamers at long-off, thus underlining KKR’s fielding intensity ahead of the tournament.
Veteran Manish Pandey teases KKR’s fielding for IPL 2026
IPL veteran Manish Pandey pulled off a screamer at long-off to dismiss hard-hitting Cameron Green at one stage of KKR’s intra-squad match. Played out at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday, March 23, the cricketer can be seen sprinting towards his right before making a flying dive and grabbing the ball with his outstretched hands.
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The catch not only sent Cameron Green packing back towards the pavilion, but also signaled KKR’s intent to set the bar high with their fielding ahead of IPL 2026. A while later, Pandey replicated the act by snaring another blinder around the same region.
Manish Pandey heads for record IPL 2026 season
Manish Pandey, a veteran of 174 IPL matches, is set to enter IPL 2026 as one of only four cricketers in history to have played all IPL seasons to date. The 36-year-old will be joining the likes of RCB zealot Virat Kohli, CSK icon MS Dhoni and former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma for the huge record.
It is worth noting that Pandey was also the first Indian player in IPL history to score a century, doing so for the RCB franchise back during the fag end of the IPL 2009 season in South Africa. As of now, he needs just 58 runs to complete 4,000 IPL runs, and will be expected to scale the landmark figure in the earlier stages of the upcoming tournament.
KKR struggling with fast bowling reserves
While KKR has assembled a formidable squad for the IPL 2026 season owing to their aggressive retention policies and smart auction purchases, the franchise is currently struggling with its fast-bowling reserves.
The team management is set to enter the tournament without their first-choice pace attack, considering the likes of Akash Deep and Harshit Rana have been ruled out of the entire season owing to their injuries. Even Bangladesh paceman Mustafizur Rahman was forced to be excluded from the KKR squad owing to India’s prevailing geo-political conflict with their eastern neighbors.
KKR to face Mumbai Indians to start-off new season
The KKR franchise, in search of its fourth title, will commence its IPL 2026 campaign on Sunday, March 29 later this weekend. Under the leadership of returning captain Ajinkya Rahane, the three-time winners will be taking on Mumbai Indians at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from 7:30 PM IST onwards.
As per the IPL 2026 schedule unveiled by the BCCI, the KKR will subsequently host SRH, Punjab Kings and LSG on April 2, April 6 and April 9 respectively at the Eden Gardens.
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