Former Indian spinner Murali Kartik urged Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane to drop down to No.3 in their upcoming IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 6. The veteran right-hander has opened the batting with New Zealand batter Finn Allen in the side’s opening two games of the season.

However, with KKR losing both outings, Kartik believes the time is right for Allen to open with fellow Kiwi opener Tim Seifert. The former spinner advised the side to replace Cameron Green, who hasn’t yet been cleared to bowl, with Seifert.

Talking about KKR’s changes for the PBKS clash on Cricbuzz, Kartik said (29:03):

“KKR has done well when the top order fires. With Cameron Green not bowling, I would be tempted to get the New Zealand duo of Seifert and Allen together. Rahane can come in at No.3.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan echoed Kartik’s sentiments, saying:

“Cameron Green is the real issue. He’s now under so much pressure because of the debate about his bowling. He’s just there as a batter, and he’s not scoring runs. Seifert had a brilliant T20 World Cup, and he and Allen could be their Marsh-Markram combination at the top. I would go to that and bat Rahane at No.3. He could be the foundation.”

Green has struggled with the bat, scoring only 20 runs in two games, batting at No.3. Meanwhile, Seifert was the second leading run-scorer in the T20 World Cup 2026 with 326 runs at an average of 46 and a strike rate of over 166.

“Everything is hinged on them” – Murali Kartik on KKR’s spin duo

Murali Kartik believes Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy’s struggles have hurt KKR in their opening two games of IPL 2026. The former has picked up only one wicket at an average of 69 and an economy of 9.85.

Meanwhile, Varun has been even worse with no wickets and an economy of over 13 in KKR’s first two outings.

“They need to find bowling, though, with their two trump cards, Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine struggling. Everything is hinged on them. They are the big eight overs. The No.1-ranked T20 bowler, Varun, has gone for almost 300 runs in his last 24 overs. That’s a lot,” said Kartik (via the aforementioned source).

Vaughan also called out Varun for his inept showing in the last few matches, saying:

“The bowling is a real issue, and it’s Chakaravarthy that’s the main one. Being No.1 in the world and going for so many is remarkable. He’s bowling too quickly, like a medium pacer. Because of that, it’s irrelevant which way it turns. David Miller showed the way on how to hit him in the World Cup. He has to find a way to counter that now.”

Varun endured a poor second half of the 2026 T20 World Cup despite India winning the title, with an economy of over 11 and only five wickets in the last five matches.