'Shame on KKR': Kolkata Knight Riders face boycott calls for signing Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, are facing boycott calls following their acquisition of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for INR 9.2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi. The hashtag #BoycottKKR has emerged on social media platforms, with some fans expressing their displeasure over the team's decision to sign the left-arm pacer.
The backlash appears to stem from a combination of factors. Some critics have cited geopolitical tensions between India and Bangladesh, while others have referenced past instances where Bangladeshi individuals were perceived to have shown support for Pakistan-backed terrorism in India. Concerns over the treatment of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh have also been raised as justification for opposing Rahman's inclusion in the IPL. In May 2025, similar boycott calls were directed at Delhi Capitals after they signed Mustafizur Rahman as a replacement player.
Despite the controversy, many voices within the cricketing community have welcomed Mustafizur Rahman's signing by KKR. Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Moeen Ali expressed his happiness for his former teammate, highlighting Rahman's skills and the fact that he was "very underrated". Ali felt Rahman was unlucky during his time at CSK in 2023, not getting enough opportunities despite performing well initially.
Mustafizur Rahman himself has expressed his excitement about joining the Kolkata Knight Riders. In a video posted by the franchise, he stated that he was "very happy and excited to be part of the KKR team" and was looking forward to the upcoming season. He also shared his enthusiasm on social media, saying he was "dreaming in purple" and eager to join the "purple family".
KKR, who entered the auction with the largest purse of INR 64.3 crore, made headlines by securing Cameron Green for a whopping INR 25.2 crore and Sri Lankan all-rounder Matheesha Pathirana for INR 18 crore. Mustafizur Rahman was the third-most expensive pick for KKR at the auction. However, some are questioning whether spending so much money on Mustafizur Rahman was necessary. Former KKR player Aakash Chopra believes that Mustafizur is going to be Pathirana's back-up and hence the money splurged on him was not necessary.
The signing of Rahman adds to KKR's already strong pace attack. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that Mustafizur will be unavailable for a short period during the IPL 2026 season, from April 16 to 23, due to national duty. Bangladesh are scheduled to play a series against New Zealand during that time. The BCB has stated that national commitments take precedence. It is expected that Mustafizur will be granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to return to the IPL for the T20Is while skipping the ODIs.
Despite the expected brief absence of Mustafizur Rahman, KKR is unlikely to be overly concerned, given their squad depth. The team's revamped squad has a strong focus on pace and all-round strength. Mustafizur has considerable experience, having played 60 IPL matches and taken 65 wickets for five different franchises. He is also the most expensive Bangladeshi player in IPL history. This will be Mustafizur's ninth season in the IPL, but his first with KKR.
