IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders come harsh on Finn Allen; Three-time champs bring in Tim Seifert during GT vs KKR
Finn Allen was dropped from the KKR playing XI against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 in Ahmedabad. Few New Zealander Tim Seifert replaced Allen in the playing XI. Allen's scores in IPL 2026 read 37, 25, 6, 9, 1 in five matches.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were forced to come harsh on Finn Allen in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match against Gujarat Titans on Friday at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Bought for at a steal price of ₹2 crore during the IPL 2026 auction, Allen failed to replicate the form that the New Zealander possessed in the T20 World Cup 2026 and Big Bash League (BBL).
Having lost four of their five matches so far. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane hinted at some changes in combination after their previous loss to Chennai Super Kings. Expectedly, the axe fell on the Allen. "Tim Seifert comes in place of Finn Allen," Rahane said at the coin toss.
The three-time IPL champions went for Allen after the New Zealand opener's successful BBL campaign where he finished as the highest run-getter, scoring 466 runs in 11 matches in the 2025-26 season for Perth Scorchers. To add more to that, Allen and Seifert got more runs as a pair in the T20 World Cup 2026.
In fact, Allen was preferred over Seifert in the first five matches by KKR, following his 33-ball hundred in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. However, the right-hander was a major flop in IPL 2026. In five matches, Allen's scores read 37, 25, 6, 9, 1. Seifert could only contribute 19 runs before being caught by Glenn Phillips off the bowling of Kagiso Rabada.
Before Friday, Seifert played just three matches in IPL - one for KKR in 2021 and two for Delhi Capitals in 2022. So far, KKR lost against Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings. Their match against Punjab Kings was washed out in Kolkata.
What did Ajinkya rahane say at coin toss?
Asked about the team environment amid their winless streak, Rahane said the players are desperate to turn it around. "The kind of tournament we’ve had so far, we just want to turn it around. I thought batting first is a good option. It’s all about, if you’re doing well, people will say good things about you. If you’re not, then they will criticise you.
“It’s part and parcel of any sportsperson’s life. It’s about staying confident as a team, backing each other in tough times, that’s what matters. We always talk about character in the team and I think we have really good characters. We just want to focus on our strengths, play good cricket. T20 is all about momentum, winning small moments. Today, we just want to play fearless cricket and stay in the moment,” he added.
GT vs KKR playing XIs
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Ashok Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Kolkata Knight Riders: Tim Seifert, Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi
Catch the live updates from IPL 2026 with the complete IPL 2026 Schedule and the IPL 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts in IPL 2026 Orange Cap and IPL 2026 Purple Cap.
About the Author
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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