Virender Sehwag: Knight Riders need to replace Rovman Powell in IPL starting XI

Virender Sehwag: Knight Riders need to replace Rovman Powell in IPL starting XI

Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL 2026 campaign has reached a critical point, with qualification hopes fading after a damaging defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

In that match, KKR failed to defend a target of 193, extending a worrying run of poor results and exposing ongoing issues in both batting consistency and bowling depth, further compounded by the absence of injured spinner Varun Chakravarthy.

The Ajinkya Rahane-led side now return to their home ground for the first time since 16 April, but the situation remains delicate as they prepare to face Gujarat Titans.

KKR have lost their last three meetings against GT, with their most recent win in the fixture coming in 2023, when Rinku Singh produced a decisive match-winning performance.

Former India batter Virender Sehwag has called for bold selection changes, urging the franchise to drop Rovman Powell and Vaibhav Arora for the upcoming clash.

Powell has struggled for involvement, not batting or bowling in the last three matches, despite scoring 121 runs in five innings at an average of 40.33 and a strike rate of 134.44. Arora, meanwhile, endured a difficult outing against RCB, returning figures of 0-48 in four overs.

Sehwag has also suggested bringing back Tim Seifert and placing greater trust in untested Indian bowlers.

"I feel that he (Rovman Powell) is not doing any contribution at all. So, you can try to play Tim Seifert instead of him, or even Rahul Tripathi," Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

"In bowling, Vaibhav Arora is not making any significant contribution, so you can see a change there.

"I don't know what kind of form Umran Malik is in, Saini has played one match where he didn't do much.

"It is not necessary that Seifert should open, he can be played at No.3 as well. They can consider sending Raghuvanshi at No4, or Ajinkya Rahane can come in at No.3, that can also be done." 

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