Finn Allen

Finn Allen is a destructive New Zealand opening batter who returns to the Kolkata Knight Riders for the IPL 2026 season after being acquired for ₹2 crore. Known for his fearless, 'first-ball-boundary' approach, Allen has cemented his status as one of the most terrifying strikers in the game. He enters the 2026 season on the heels of a historic performance in the T20 World Cup, where he smashed the fastest century in tournament history—a breathtaking 33-ball ton against South Africa in the semi-finals at Eden Gardens. With a career T20 strike rate exceeding 170 and a reputation for dismantling world-class pace attacks, he is the perfect high-velocity replacement for the top-order slot previously held by Phil Salt.

Beyond his international heroics, Allen’s credentials in global franchise cricket are peerless; he finished as the top run-scorer in the 2025-26 Big Bash League, amassing 466 runs for the Perth Scorchers at a strike rate of 184.19. He also holds the record for the highest individual score in Major League Cricket, a staggering 151 off 52 balls for the San Francisco Unicorns. While his previous IPL stints with RCB were limited in opportunity, his current 'red-hot' form—including a record-equaling 16 sixes in a single T20I—makes him a guaranteed starter for KKR. Paired with fellow Kiwi Tim Seifert at the top, Allen’s ability to exploit the powerplay is expected to turn the Eden Gardens into a fortress for the 'Men in Purple.'